"Thank you, Peterby," said Barnabas, and, bowing to the Viscount,

followed him from the room and downstairs, out into the dewy

freshness of the morning. To avoid the crowded street they went by a

field-path behind the inn, a path which to-day was beset by, and

wound between, booths and stalls and carts of all sorts. And here

was gathered a motley crowd; bespangled tumblers and acrobats,

dark-browed gipsy fortune-tellers and horse-coupers, thimble-riggers,

showmen, itinerant musicians,--all those nomads who are to be found

on every race-course, fair, and village green, when the world goes

a-holiday making. Through all this bustling throng went our two

Advertisement..

young gentlemen, each remarkably stiff and upright as to back, and

each excessively polite, yet walking, for the most part, in a

dignified silence, until, having left the crowd behind, Barnabas

paused suddenly in the shade of a deserted caravan, and turned to his

companion.

"Dick!" said he smiling, and with hand outstretched.

"Sir?" said the Viscount, frowning and with eyes averted.

"My Lord," said Barnabas, bowing profoundly, "if I have offended

your Lordship--I am sorry, but--"

"But, sir?"

"But your continued resentment for a fancied wrong is so much

stronger than your avowed friendship for me, it would seem--that

henceforth I--"

With a warning cry the Viscount sprang forward and, turning in a

flash, Barnabas saw a heavy bludgeon in the air above him; saw the

Viscount meet it with up-flung arm; heard the thud of the blow, a

snarling curse; saw a figure dart away and vanish among the jungle

of carts; saw the Viscount stagger against the caravan and lean there,

his pale face convulsed with pain.

"Oh, Bev," he groaned, "my game arm, ye know. Hold me up, I--"

"Dick!" cried Barnabas, supporting the Viscount's writhing figure,

"oh, Dick--it was meant for me! Are you much hurt?"

"No--nothing to--mention, my dear fellow. Comes a bit--sharp at first,

y' know,--better in a minute or two."

"Dick--Dick, what can I do for you?"

"Nothing,--don't worry, Bev,--right as ninepence in a minute, y' know!"

stammered the Viscount, trying to steady his twitching mouth.

"Come back," pleaded Barnabas, "come back and let me bathe it--have

it attended to."

"Bathe it? Pooh!" said the Viscount, contriving to smile, "pain's

quite gone, I assure you, my dear fellow. I shall be all right now,

if--if you don't mind giving me your arm. Egad, Bev, some one seems

devilish determined you shan't ride to-day!"

"But I shall--now, thanks to you, Dick!"

So they presently walked on together, but no longer unnaturally

stiff as to back, for arm was locked in arm, and they forgot to be

polite to each other.

Thus, in a while, they reached the "Chequers" inn, and were

immediately shown into a comfortable sanded parlor where breakfast

was preparing. And here behold Captain Slingsby lounging upon two

chairs and very busily casting up his betting book, while the Marquis,

by the aid of a small, cracked mirror, that chanced to hang against

the wall, was frowning at his reflection and pulling at the folds of

a most elaborate cravat with petulant fingers.




Most Popular