The Black Moth Read online

  He was enveloped in a rapturous embrace.

  ‘You dear Miles! You let him escape?’

  ‘Sure, alanna, is it meself that would be doing the like? And me a Justice of the Peace withal? I told them not to handcuff me lord.’

  ‘Oh, I do so wish you had let him escape! But if ’tis really a gentleman, you will?’

  ‘I will not then, asthore. I’ll be sending him to await the Assizes.’

  ‘You are very cruel, then.’

  ‘But, me darlin’ –’

  ‘And I wish to get off your knee.’

  He drew her close.

  ‘I’ll see what can be done for your protégé, Molly. But don’t be forgetting he tried to kill the only husband you have!’ He watched the effect of this with that humorous twinkle in his eye. But my lady was not to be put off.

  ‘With an empty pistol? Fie on you, Miles! And may I hide behind the screen while you question him?’

  ‘Ye may not.’

  ‘But I wish so much to see him!’

  O’Hara shook his head with an air of finality she knew full well. However easy-going and good-natured her husband might be, there were times when he was impervious to all blandishments. So after darkly hinting that she would be nearer than he imagined, she gave up the contest to go and visit young Master David in his nursery.

  For some time in lock-up Carstares had cudgelled his brain to think out a possible mode of escape next day, but try as he might he could light on nothing. If only Miles were not to question him! It was hardly likely that he would be allowed to retain his mask, yet therein lay his only chance of preserving his incognito. He prayed that by some merciful providence O’Hara would either fail to recognise him or would at least pretend that he did not. Having decided that there was nothing further to be done in the matter he lay down on his extremely hard pallet, and went to sleep as if he had not a care in the world.

  Next morning, after a long and wordy argument with the head gaoler on the subject of masks, he was haled in triumph to the house.

  As the little cavalcade was about to ascend the steps that led to the front door, my Lady O’Hara came gaily forth carrying a basket and a pair of scissors, and singing a snatch of song. At the sight of the highwayman the song broke off and her red lips formed a long-drawn ‘Oh!’ She stood quite still on the top step, gazing down at my lord. The two gaolers stood aside to allow her to come down, just as a greyhound darted up the steps and flung itself against her in an exuberance of joy. My lady, none too securely balanced, reeled; the basket fell from her arm, her foot missed the next step, and she tumbled headlong down. But in the flash of an eyelid Carstares had sprung forward and received her in his arms. He lowered her gently to the ground.

  ‘I trust you are not hurt, madam?’ he asked, and retrieved her basket, handing it to her.

  Molly took it with a smile.

  ‘I thank you sir, not at all; though I fear I should have injured myself quite considerably had you not been so swift in catching me. ’Twas most kind of you, I am sure!’ She extended her small hand, and her eyes devoured him.

  For a moment my lord hesitated, and then, sweeping off his hat, he bowed low over the hand.

  ‘’Twas less than nothing, madam,’ he said in his own cultivated voice. ‘I beg you will dismiss it from your mind.’ He straightened himself as the gaolers came forward, and put on his hat again.

  Lady O’Hara stepped aside and watched them disappear into the house. Her cheeks were rather flushed, and her eyes suspiciously bright. Suddenly she nodded her head decisively, and throwing away her luckless basket, hurried across the lawn and entered the house through a long window.

  My lord was conducted to the library, where O’Hara sat awaiting him, and slouched forward with his hands thrust deep into his pockets and his hat still on his head.

  The head gaoler eyed him gloomily, and looked pained when Carstares with studied boorishness leaned carelessly against a fine carved table.

  ‘We ’ave refrained from ’andcuffin’ pris’ner, sir, at your horders,’ he said, in a tone that warned O’Hara that should harm come of it, on his head be the blame.

  Miles nodded.

  ‘Quite right,’ he said pleasantly, and glanced at the cloaked and masked figure before him with more suspicion than ever.

  ‘But I regrets to ’ave to report very hobstinate be’aviour on part of pris’ner, sir,’ added the gaoler impressively.

  ‘Indeed?’ said Miles gravely. ‘How so?’

  Jack controlled an insane desire to laugh, and listened to the gaoler’s complaint.

  ‘You see the pris’ner, sir, with that great mask on ’is face? Afore we set out to come ’ere, I told ’im to take it off. And ’e refoosed, sir. Seeing as ’ow you gave no horders, I did not force ’im to hobey.’

  ‘Ah!… Your name, please?’

  ‘John Smith, sir,’ answered Carstares promptly and hoarsely.

  O’Hara wrote it down with a sceptical smile on his lips that Jack did not quite like.

  ‘Perhaps ye will have the goodness to unmask?’

  There was a momentary silence.

  ‘Why, sir, I thought ye might allow me to keep it on?’

  ‘Did ye now? I will not be allowing any such thing.’

  ‘But, sir –’

  ‘’Tis impossible. Off with it!’

  ‘Sir –’

  ‘If ye don’t take it off, I shall ask these men to assist ye,’ warned Miles.

  ‘May I not speak with ye alone, sir?’ pleaded Jack.

  By now O’Hara was greatly intrigued.

  ‘Ye may not. Unmask!’ He was leaning half across the table, his eyes fixed on Jack’s face.

  With a quaint little laugh that made O’Hara’s brows contract swiftly, my lord shrugged his shoulders French fashion and obeyed. The mask and hat were tossed lightly on to the table, and Miles found himself gazing into a pair of blue eyes that met his half defiantly, half imploringly. He drew in his breath sharply and the thin ivory rule he held snapped suddenly between his fingers. And at that crucial moment a door behind him that had stood ajar was pushed open, and my Lady O’Hara came tripping into the room.

  The two gaolers and her husband turned at once to see who it was, while Jack, who had recognised her, but had not the least idea who she was, fell to dusting his boots with his handkerchief.

  O’Hara rose, and for once looked severe.

  ‘What –’ he began, and stopped, for without so much as a glance at him, my lady ran towards the prisoner, crying:

  ‘Harry! Oh, Harry!’

  Jack gathered that he was the person addressed, and instantly made her an elaborate leg.

  The next moment she was tugging at the lapels of his coat, with her face upturned to his.

  ‘Harry, you wicked boy!’ she cried, and added beneath her breath: ‘My name is Molly!’

  A laugh sprang to my lord’s eyes and his beautiful smile appeared.

  In a stupefied fashion O’Hara watched him steal an arm about her waist, and place a hand beneath her chin. The next instant a kiss was planted full on the little lady’s lips, and he heard Jack Carstares’ voice exclaim:

  ‘Fie on you, Molly, for a spoil-sport! Here had I fooled Miles to the top of my bent – and ’pon rep! he scarce knows me yet!’

  My lady disengaged herself, blushing.

  ‘Oh, Miles, you do know Harry – my cousin Harry?’

  O’Hara collected his scattered wits and rose nobly to the occasion.

  ‘Of course I do, me dear, though at first he gave me such a shock, I was near dumbfounded. Ye are a mad, scatterbrained fellow to play such a trick upon us, devil take ye!’ He laid his hands on Jack’s shoulders. ‘Pray, what did ye do it for, boy?’

  Jack’s brain worked swiftly.

  ‘Why, Miles, never tell me you’ve forgot our