She flushed for a moment.
"There was no need," she said. "It does not matter."
Dick sighed and shrugged his shoulders.
"No, I suppose it doesn't; but it's a mysterious affair. I hear he is
going to marry that fair woman, Lady Luce."
Nell inclined her head, her lips set tightly.
"It's a pity we can't get away from here," he said gloomily. "It's jolly
awkward. Though Drake was more than friendly with me last night and just
now. He's awfully changed."
They were standing by the window of the sitting room, and Nell was
looking out with eyes that saw nothing.
"Changed?"
"Yes; he looks years older, and he's stern and grave as if----Well, he
doesn't look the same man, and it strikes me that he's anything but
happy, though he is the Earl of Angleford, and going to marry one of the
most beautiful woman in England."
Nell stood with compressed lips and eyes fixed on vacancy.
"He got a nasty blow last night," said Dick, after a pause.
Her manner changed in a moment, and her eyes flew round to him.
"He was hurt?" she said, with a catch in her breath.
Dick nodded.
"Yes; that ruffian struck him with the revolver or something. And I
say, Nell, I haven't heard your share in this affair yet. Drake told me
that the fellow struck you."
"Did he?" she said indifferently. "I--I don't remember. Was Lord
Angleford badly hurt? Tell me."
"Oh, no; I think not; not badly," replied Dick. "There's a bruise on his
temple; but what's that to the damage poor Falconer suffered? Drake says
that it was the pluckiest thing he's seen. Oh, Lord! what a sickening
business it is! Thank goodness, they've got the fellow. It will be a
lifer for him, that's one consolation."
Nell shuddered.
"And they've got the jewels back, that's another," said Dick, more
cheerily. "Though I'd rather the fellow had got off with them than poor
Falconer should have been hurt. What beastly bad luck, just after he'd
struck oil and got a start! Drake says that Falconer will be a
celebrity, if he lives; and you may depend Drake will do his best to
make his words good. There'll be a 'Falconer boom,' mark my words. I
never saw any one so concerned about a man as Drake is about him. He was
here outside talking with the doctor before it was light. The whole of
the remainder of the big house is to be placed at our disposal. In
short, if it had been Drake himself who was stabbed, there couldn't be
more concern shown. Here's the breakfast, and for the first time in my
life, I don't want it. Why the deuce can't the swells look after their
blessed diamonds?"