Carstares set down his glass in genuine amazement.
"I?"
"Indeed, yes. I do not know whence the rumour came, but it reached Wyncham. My lord said nought, but I think Mr. Richard hardly credited it."
"I should hope not! Why should they think me turned rebel, pray?"
Mr. Warburton frowned.
"Rebel, sir?"
"Rebel, Mr. Warburton. I have served under his Majesty."
"The Carstares were ever Tories, Master Jack, true to their rightful king."
"My dear Warburton, I owe nought to the Stuart princes. I was born in King George the First's reign, and I protest I am a good Whig."
Warburton shook his head disapprovingly.
"There has never been a Whig in the Wyncham family, sir."
"And you hope there never will be again, eh? What of Dick? Is he faithful to the Pretender?"
"I think Mr. Richard does not interest himself in politics, sir."
Carstares raised his eyebrows, and there fell a silence.
After a minute or two Mr. Warburton cleared his throat.
"I-I suppose, sir-you have no idea of-er-discontinuing your-er-profession?"
My lord gave an irrepressible little laugh.
"Faith, Mr. Warburton, I've only just begun!"
"Only- But a year ago, Mr. Richard-"
"I held him up? Ay, but to tell the truth, sir, I've not done much since then!"
"Then, sir, you are not-er-notorious?"
"Good gad, no! Notorious, forsooth! Confess, Warburton, you thought me some heroic figure? 'Gentleman Harry,' perhaps?"
Warburton blushed.
"Well, sir- I-er-wondered."
"I shall have to disappoint you, I perceive. I doubt Bow Street has never heard of me-and-to tell the truth-'tis not an occupation which appeals vastly to my senses."
"Then why, my lord, do you continue?"
"I must have some excuse for roaming the country," pleaded Jack. "I could not be idle."
"You are not-compelled to-er-rob, my lord?"
Carstares wrinkled his brow inquiringly.
"Compelled? Ah-I take your meaning. No, Warburton, I have enough for my wants-now; time was-but that is past. I rob for amusement's sake."
Warburton looked steadily across at him.
"I am surprised, my lord, that you, a Carstares, should find it-amusing."
John was silent for a moment, and when he at length spoke it was defiantly and with a bitterness most unusual in him.
"The world, Mr. Warburton, has not treated me so kindly that I should feel any qualms of conscience. But, an it gives you any satisfaction to know it, I will tell you that my robberies are few and far between. You spoke a little while ago of my probable-ah-fate -on Tyburn Tree. I think you need not fear to hear of that."
"I- It gives me great satisfaction, my lord, I confess," stammered the lawyer, and found nothing more to say. After a long pause he again produced the bulky roll of parchment and laid it down before the Earl with the apologetic murmur of: "Business, my lord!"