"I cannot be certain. I was masked, of course, but he said he thought he did. 'Twas at that moment he fired his pistol at me."
"The dirty scoundrel!"
"M'm-yes. 'Tis that which makes me think he did not know me. Damn it all, Miles, even Tracy would not do a thing like that!"
"Would he not? If ye ask me, I say that Tracy is game enough for any kind of devilry."
"But, my dear fellow, that is too black! He could not try to kill in cold blood a man he had hunted with, and fenced with-and-and-no man could!"
O'Hara looked extremely sceptical.
"Because ye could not yourself, is not to say that a miserable spalpeen like Belmanoir could not."
"I don't believe it of him. We were always quite friendly-if it had been Robert now- But I am not going to believe it. And don't say anything to these people, O'Hara, because they do not know Devil. I gather from what Miss Betty says, that he calls himself Everard. He met the girl-Diana-at Bath; you know his way. She'd none of him: hence the abduction."
"Heavens, but 'tis a foul mind the man's got!"
"Where women are concerned, yes. Otherwise-'tis not such a bad fellow, Miles."
"I've no use for that kind of dirt myself, Jack."
"Oh, I don't know. I daresay we are none of us exactly saints." He changed the subject abruptly. "How is Jenny?"
"Rather off her feed; missing you, I expect. I left her with your man. He should be arriving soon, I should think. I don't fancy he'll waste much time."
"Neither do I. Poor fellow, he must have worried terribly over his worthless master."
"Sure, his face was as white as your own when I told him ye were wounded!"
Carstares turned his head quickly.
"What's this about my face? Just be so kind as to hand me that mirror, Miles."
O'Hara laughed and obeyed, watching my lord's close scrutiny of his countenance with some surprise.
"Interesting pallor, my dear friend, interesting pallor. Nevertheless, I am glad that Jim is on his way." He met O'Hara's eyes as he looked up, and his lips quivered irrepressibly.
"You think me very vain, Miles?"
"Is it a pose of yours, John? Is it Sir Anthony Ferndale, Bart.?"
"No. I believe it is myself. You see, when one has but one's self to live for and think for-one makes the most of one's self! Hence my vanity. Take the mirror away, please-the sight of my countenance offends me!"
"Sure, ye are free with your orders, me lord!" said O'Hara, putting the glass down on the table. "And, while I think of it-what might your name be now?"