O'Hara looked up, calmly studying the wrathful countenance.
"Chivalrous young fool," he drawled.
Again the short, angry laugh.
"It is so likely that I should ask her to marry me, is it not? 'Mademoiselle, you see in me an improvident fool: I began life by cheating at cards, and since then-' Oh, I shall believe it myself ere long! I seem to have told it to so many people. And I lay myself open to the impertinences of-" he checked himself, thinking of the interview downstairs with Mr. Beauleigh.
"Rubbish, Jack."
"'Tis not rubbish. I have one recommendation-only one."
"Faith, have ye as much? What is it?"
My lord laughed bitterly.
"I dress rather well."
"And fence better, as far as I remember."
"I have reason to. That is but another point to damn me. What woman would marry a fencing-master? Oh, my God! what a mess I have made of my life." He tried to laugh and failed miserably.
"I rather fancy Mistress Di would."
"She will not be asked thus to demean herself," was the proud answer.
"My dear Jack, ye forget ye are the Earl of Wyncham."
"A pretty earl! No thank you, Miles. Richard's son will be Earl-no son of mine."
O'Hara brought his fist down on the table with a crash.
"Damn Richard and his son!"
My lord picked up a jewelled pin and, walking to the glass, proceeded to fasten it in his cravat. The other followed him with smouldering eyes.
"Retired into your shell again?" he growled.
Carstares, with his head slightly on one side, considered the effect of the pin. Then he came back to his friend.
"My dear Miles, the long and short of it is that I am an unreasonable grumbler. I made my bed, and I suppose I must-er-lie on it."
"And will ye be afther telling me who helped ye in the making of it?"
Carstares sat down and started to pull on one boot.
"I foresee we shall be at one another's throats ere long," he prophesied cheerfully. "Did I tell you that I informed Mr. Beauleigh of my-er-profession to-day?"
Miles forgot his anger in surprise.
"Ye never told him ye were a highwayman?" he cried.
"Yes, I did. Why not?"
"Why not? Why not? God help us all! are ye daft, man? Do ye intend to tell every other person ye meet what ye are? Bedad, 'tis mad ye are entirely!"
Carstares sighed.
"I was afraid you would not understand."
"'Twould take a wizard to understand ye! Another chivalrous impulse, I doubt not?"
"Chiv-! No. It is just that I could not let him think me an honourable gentleman. He took it well, on the whole, and is now frigidly polite."