The Black Moth: A Romance of the XVIIIth Century Read online

  CHAPTER XV

  O'HARA'S MIND IS MADE UP

  Jim Salter folded one of my lord's waistcoats, and placed it carefullyin an open valise; then he picked up a coat, and spread it on the bedpreparatory to folding it in such wise that no crease should afterwardsmar its smoothness. All about him my lord's clothing was strewn; Mechlinruffles and cravats adorned one chair, silk hose another; gorgeous coatshung on their backs; shoes of every description, red-heeled and white,riding boots and slippers, stood in a row awaiting attention wigsperched coquettishly on handy projections, and piles of white cambricshirts peeped out from an almost finished bag.

  Jim laid the coat tenderly in the valise, coaxing it into decorousfolds, and wondering at the same time where his master was. He had beenout all the morning, and on his return had looked so ill that Jim hadbeen worried, and wished that they were not leaving Horton House quiteso soon. A little while ago my lord had been closeted with his host; Jimsupposed he must still be there. He reached out his hand for anotherwaistcoat, but before his fingers had touched it, he stopped, and liftedhis head, listening. Hasty, impetuous footsteps sounded on the stairs,and came furiously along the corridor. The door was twisted open, and mylord stood on the threshold. Jim scanned the tired face anxiously, andnoted with a sinking heart that the blue eyes were blazing and the finelips set in a hard, uncompromising line. The slender hand gripping thedoor-handle twitched in a way that Jim knew full well; evidently my lordwas in an uncertain mood.

  "Have you finished?" rapped out Carstares.

  "Not quite, sir."

  "I wish to leave this year and not next, if 'tis all the same to you!"

  "Yes, sir. I didn't know you was in a hurry, sir."

  There was no reply to this. My lord advanced into the room and cast oneglance at his scattered baggage and another all round him.

  "Where is my riding dress?"

  Jim shivered in his luckless shoes.

  "I--er--'tis packed, sir. Do ye want it?"

  "Of course I want it! Do you suppose that I am going to ride in what Ihave on?"

  "I rather thought ye were driving, your honour."

  "I am not. The scarlet suit at once, please."

  He flung himself down in a chair before his dressing-table and picked upa nail-file.

  Salter eyed his reflection in the glass dismally, and made no movementto obey. After a moment my lord swung round.

  "Well! What are you standing there for? Didn't you hear me?"

  "Ay, sir, I did, but--your pardon, sir--but do ye think 'tis wise toride to-day for--for the first time?"

  The file slammed down on to the table.

  "I am riding to Horley this afternoon!" said his master dangerously.

  "'Tis a matter of fifteen miles or so, your honour. Hadn't ye better--"

  "Damn you, Jim, be quiet!"

  Salter gave it up.

  "Very well, sir," he said, and unearthed the required dress. "I'll seethe baggage goes by coach, and saddle the mare and Peter."

  "Not Peter. You go in the coach."

  "No, sir."

  "_What!_"

  My lord stared at him. There had been a note of finality in therespectful tone. My lord became icy.

  "You forget yourself, Salter."

  "I ask your pardon, sir."

  "You will travel in charge of my things, as usual."

  Jim compressed his lips, and stowed a shoe away in one corner of thebag.

  "You understand me?"

  "I understand ye well enough, sir."

  "Then that is settled."

  "No, sir."

  My lord dropped his eye-glass.

  "What the devil do you mean--'No, sir'?"

  "I ask your pardon, sir, an I presume, but I can't and won't let ye ridealone with your wound but just healed." There was not a hint of defianceor impertinence in the quiet voice, but it held a great determination.

  "You won't, eh? Do you imagine I am a child?"

  "No, sir."

  "Or unable to take care of myself?"

  "I think ye are weaker than ye know, sir."

  "Oh, you do, do you?"

  Jim came up to him.

  "Ye'll let me ride with ye, sir? I won't trouble ye, and I can ridebehind, but I can't let ye go alone. Ye might faint--sir--"

  "I can assure you I am not like to be a pleasant companion!" saidCarstares with a savage little laugh.

  "Why, sir, I understand there's something troubling ye. Will ye let mecome?"

  My lord scowled up at him, then relented suddenly.

  "As you please."

  "Thank ye, sir." Salter returned to his packing, cording one bag andplacing it near the door, and quickly filling another. The piles oflinen grew steadily smaller until they disappeared, and he retired intoa cupboard to reappear with a great armful of coats and small-clothes.

  For a long while my lord sat silent staring blankly before him. Hewalked to the window and stood with his back to the room, looking out,then he turned and came back to his chair. Jim, watching him covertly,noted that the hard glitter had died out of his eyes, and that he lookedwearier than ever.

  Carstares studied his nails for a moment in silence. Presently he spoke:

  "Jim."

  "Yes, sir?"

  "I shall be--going abroad again shortly."

  If Carstares had remarked that it was a fine day the man could not haveshown less surprise.

  "Shall we, sir?"

  John looked across at him, smiling faintly.

  "You'll come, Jim?"

  "I would go anywhere with ye, sir."

  "And what about that little girl at Fittering?"

  Salter blushed and stammered hopelessly.

  "My dear fellow, since when have I been blind? Did you think I did notknow?"

  "Why, sir--well, sir--er--yes, sir!"

  "Of course I knew! Can you leave her to come with me?"

  "I couldn't leave ye to stay with her, sir."

  "Are you sure? I do not want you to come against your inclinations."

  "Women ain't everything, sir."

  "Are they not? I think they are ... a great deal," said my lordwistfully.

  "I'm mighty fond o' Mary, but she knows I must go with you."

  "Does she? But is it quite fair to her? And I believe I am not minded todrag you 'cross Continent again."

  "Ye won't leave me behind, sir? Ye couldn't do that! Sir-ye're neverthinking of going by yourself? I--I--I won't let ye!"

  "I am afraid I cannot spare you. But if you should change your mind,tell me. Is it a promise?"

  "Ay, sir. If I _should_ change my mind." Salter's smile was grimlysarcastic.

  "I am selfish enough to hope you'll not change. I think no one elsewould bear with my vile temper as you do. Help me out of this coat, willyou?"

  "I'll never change, sir. And as to tempers--As if I minded!"

  "No. You are marvellous. My breeches. Thanks."

  He shed his satin small-clothes, and proceeded to enter into whitebuckskins. "Not those boots, Jim, the other pair." He leaned against thetable as he spoke, drumming his fingers on a chair-back.

  A knock fell on the door, at which he frowned and signed to Jim, whowalked across and opened it, slightly.

  "Is your master here?" inquired a well-known voice, and at the sound ofit my lord's face lighted up, and Salter stood aside.

  "Come in, Miles!"

  The big Irishman complied and cast a swift glance round the disorderedroom. He raised his eyebrows at sight of Jack's riding boots and lookedinquiringly across at him.

  My lord pushed a chair forward with his foot.

  "Sit down, man! I thought you were in London?"

  "I was. I brought Molly home yesterday, the darlint, and I heard that yewere leaving here this afternoon."

  "Ah?"

  "And as I'm not going to let ye slip through me fingers again, I thoughtI would come and make sure of ye. Ye are a deal too slippery, Jack."

  "Yet I was coming to see you again whatever happened."