"All the same, I'd try to get rid of them," said Heyton, doggedly. "I

saw one or two of them, evil-looking chaps, lurking about the

plantation."

"Looking for wood for their fires, no doubt," said the Marquess. "But

I'll speak to the steward, if you wish it; though, as I say, they are on

common land and it will not be easy to turn them off."

"Well, don't blame me when it's too late," said Percy, with a shrug of

his shoulders.

Departing from his usual custom, he went into the drawing-room with his

father and sat there, listening to Miriam's playing and singing; and it

Advertisement..

was he who suggested bed.

"I'm a bit tired; had a long tramp to-day," he said, yawning and

stretching his arms.

"You ought to walk more, Percy," remarked the Marquess. "If you'll allow

me to say so, I don't think you take enough exercise. You ought to ride;

but perhaps you will when the hunting begins."

"Can't afford to hunt," retorted Heyton, with an unpleasant laugh.

"Horses cost money."

"You shall have some hunters," said the Marquess, with a contraction of

his brow. "I had thought of speaking to you about it. We will discuss it

later on."

"All right," said Heyton, ungraciously. "Well, I'm off."

He went upstairs, and Miriam and the Marquess followed him soon after.

Just as she was ready for bed, Heyton opened his dressing-room door and,

looking in, said: "I'm going to sleep in here to-night, Miriam."

He had often occupied the bed in his dressing-room; generally on nights

when, if the truth must be told, he had drunk too much and was ashamed

that Miriam should see him.

"Very well," she said, indifferently.

He closed the door and turned the key softly, took off his things and

put on a thick dressing-gown over his pyjamas; then he sat down in a

chair, with his hands thrust in the dressing-gown pockets, his head sunk

on his breast, his teeth gnawing his lip. He was listening intently.

Presently he got up, went to the bed and disarranged the clothes, giving

them the appearance of having been slept in; then he went back to his

chair and sat and listened again.

The faint noises of a big household retiring to rest grew less by

degrees and then ceased; and presently all was perfectly still. He sat

motionless, still listening, for another hour, two; then he rose and,

opening the outer door stealthily, stopped, with craned head, still

listening. The silence was unbroken, and with noiseless tread, he passed

along the corridor to his father's door and, with his ear to the

keyhole, listened again. He could hear his father's steady, long-drawn

breathing, the breathing of a man in a deep sleep.




Most Popular