"It's a pity, sir," returned Adrien, respectfully; for his father was
the only person who dared say a word in disfavour of his friend. "He
takes any amount of pains to save me trouble."
"Well, it pays him," retorted Lord Barminster dryly; then with a wave of
the hand as if to dismiss an unpleasant subject, he added, "You're off
to the stables, I suppose?"
"Yes, sir," replied Adrien, "I want to have a look at 'King Cole.'" With
a friendly nod, he ran lightly down the wide oak staircase and
disappeared in the direction of the stables.
For a few moments Lord Barminster stood gazing after him, his stern face
relaxed, his keen eyes softened. Adrien was more to him than all his
possessions, which were vast enough to have provided for a dozen sons.
Therefore, he denied him nothing, however extravagant or reckless in
price, and refrained from any comment on his line of conduct.