“And there must be another for all the children,” Bertha put in.

“Very well, Bertha.

“Then, of course, we must have a military band and fireworks, and we had better have a big platform put down for those who like to dance, and a lot of shows and things for the elders and children, and a conjurer with a big lucky basket, and things of that sort.  Of course, at present one cannot give even an approximate date, but I will tell them that they shall have a fortnight’s notice.”

“I wonder what has become of Carthew, Major?” George Lechmere said, as he was having a last talk with Frank on the eve of the wedding.  “He will gnash his teeth when he sees it in the papers.”

“I have thought of him a good many times, George.  He is an evil scoundrel, and nothing would please me more than to hear that he was dead.  When I remember how many years he kept up his malice against me, for having beaten him in a fight; I know how intense must be his hatred of me, now that I have thwarted all his plans and burned his yacht.  It is not that I am afraid of him personally, but there is no saying what form his vengeance will take, for that he will sooner or later try to be revenged I feel absolutely certain.”

“I have often thought of it myself, sir.  Perhaps he is out in Hayti still.”

“No chance of that, George.  Miss Greendale said that he told her that he had money sufficient to pay for a ten years’ cruise.  That may have been a lie, but he must have had money sufficient to last him for some time, anyhow, and you may be sure that he took it on shore with him.  He may have died from the effects of that wound you gave him, but if he is alive I have no doubt that he is in England somewhere.  Of course, he would not show himself where he was known, having been a heavy defaulter last year; but he may have let his beard grow, and so disguised himself that he would not be easily recognised.  As to what he is doing, of course I have not the slightest idea; but we may be quite sure that he is not up to any good.

“Well, George, then it is quite settled that you and Anna are to go off with the luggage directly the wedding is over.  You will come ashore with the gig and meet us at eight o’clock at the station, with a carriage to take us down to the boat.”

“I will be there, Major, and see that everything is ready for you on board.”

When packing up his things in the morning, George Lechmere put aside a pistol and a dagger that he had taken from the sash of a mutineer, whom he had killed in India.

“They are not the sort of things a man generally carries at a wedding,” he said, grimly, “but until I know something of what that villain is doing, I mean to keep them handy for use.  There is never any saying what he may be up to, and I know well enough that the Major, whatever he says, will never give the matter a thought.”

He loaded the pistol and dropped it into his coat pocket.  Then he opened his waistcoat, cut a slit in the lining under his left arm, and pushed the dagger down it until it was stopped by the slender steel crosspiece at the handle.