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

  CHAPTER II

  MY LORD AT THE WHITE HART

  "Sir Anthony Ferndale" sat before the dressing-table in his room at theWhite Hart, idly polishing his nails. A gorgeous silk dressing gown layover the back of his chair, and, behind him, Jim was attending to hiswig, at the same time hovering anxiously over the coat and waistcoatthat were waiting to be donned.

  Carstares left off polishing his nails, yawned, and leaned back in hischair, a slim, graceful figure in cambric shirt and apricot satinbreeches. He studied his cravat for some moments in the mirror, andlifted a hand to it. Salter held his breath. With extreme deliberationthe hand moved a diamond and emerald pin the fraction of an inch to oneside, and fell to his side again. Salter drew a relieved breath, whichbrought his master's eyes round to himself.

  "No trouble, Jim?"

  "None at all, sir."

  "Neither had I. 'Twas most surprisingly easy. The birds had no morefight in them than sparrows. Two men in a coach--one a bullying rascalof a merchant, the other his clerk. Gad! but I was sorry for that littleman!" He paused, his hand on the rouge pot.

  Salter looked an inquiry.

  "Yes," nodded Carstares. "Very sorry. The fat man would appear to bullyand browbeat him after the manner of his kind; he even blamed him for myadvent, the greasy coward! Yes, Jim, you are right--he did not appeal tome, _ce M. Fudby_. So--" ingenuously, "I relieved him of his cash-boxand two hundred guineas. A present for the poor of Lewes."

  Jim jerked his shoulder, frowning.

  "If ye give away all ye get, sir, why do ye rob at all?" he askedbluntly.

  His whimsical little smile played about my lord's mouth.

  "'Tis an object for my life, Jim: a noble object. And I believe itamuses me to play Robin Hood--take from the rich to give to the poor,"he added, for Salter's benefit. "But to return to my victims--you wouldhave laughed had you but seen my little man come tumbling out of thecoach when I opened the door!"

  "Tumble, sir? Why should he do that?"

  "He was at pains to explain the reason. It seems he had been commandedto hold the door to prevent my entering--so when I jerked it open,sooner than loose his hold, he fell out on to the road. Of course, Iapologised most abjectly--and we had some conversation. Quite a nicelittle man.... It made me laugh to see him sprawling on the road,though!"

  "Wish I could have seen it, your honour. I would ha' liked fine to ha'been beside ye." He looked down at the lithe form with some pride. "I'dgive something to see ye hold up a coach, sir!"

  Haresfoot in hand, Jack met his admiring eyes in the glass, and laughed.

  "I make no doubt you would.... I have cultivated a superb voice, atrifle thick and beery, a little loud, perhaps--ah, something to dreamof o' nights! I doubt they do, too," he added reflectively, and affixedthe patch at the corner of his mouth.

  "So? A little low, you think? But 'twill suffice--What's toward?"

  Down below in the street there was a great stirring and bustling:horses' hoofs, shouts from the ostlers, and the sound of wheels on thecobble-stones. Jim went to the window and looked down, craning his neckto see over the balcony.

  "'Tis a coach arrived, sir."

  "That much had I gathered," replied my lord, busy with the powder.

  "Yes, sir. O lord, sir!" He was shaken with laughter.

  "What now?"

  "'Tis the curiousest sight, sir! Two gentlemen, one fat and t'othersmall! One's all shrivelled-looking, like a spider, while t'other--"

  "Resembles a hippopotamus--particularly in the face?"

  "Well yes, sir. He do rather. And he be wearing purple."

  "Heavens, yes! Purple, and an orange waistcoat!"

  Jim peered afresh.

  "So it is, sir! But how did you know?" Even as he put the question,understanding flashed into Jim's eyes.

  "I rather think that I have had the honour of meeting these gentlemen,"replied my lord placidly. "My buckle, Jim.... Is't a prodigious greatcoach with wheels picked out in yellow?"

  "Ay, your honour. The gentlemen seem a bit put out, too."

  "That is quite probable. Does the smaller gentleman wearsomewhat--ah--muddied garments?"

  "I can't see, sir; he stands behind the fat gentleman."

  "Mr. Bumble Bee.... Jim!"

  "Sir!" Jim turned quickly at the sound of the sharp voice.

  He found that my lord had risen, and was holding up a waistcoat ofpea-green pattern on a bilious yellow ground, between a disgusted fingerand thumb. Before his severe frown Jim dropped his eyes and stoodlooking for all the world like a schoolboy detected in some crime.

  "You put this--this monstrosity--out for _me_ to wear?" in awful tones.

  Jim eyed the waistcoat gloomily and nodded.

  "Yes, sir."

  "Did I not specify cream ground?"

  "Yes, sir. I thought--I thought that 'twas cream!"

  "My good friend, it is--it is--I cannot say what it is. And pea-green!"he shuddered. "Remove it."

  Jim hurried forward and disposed of the offending garment.

  "And bring me the broidered satin. Yes, that is it. It is particularlypleasing to the eye."

  "Yes, sir," agreed the abashed Jim.

  "You are excused this time," added my lord, with a twinkle in his eye."What are our two friends doing?"

  Salter went back to the window

  "They've gone into the house, sir. No, here's the spider gentleman! Hedo seem in a hurry, your honour!"

  "Ah!" murmured his lordship. "You may assist me into this coat. Thanks."

  With no little difficulty, my lord managed to enter into the fine satingarment, which, when on, seemed moulded to his back, so excellently didit fit. He shook out his ruffles and slipped the emerald ring on to hisfinger with a slight frown.

  "I believe I shall remain here some few days," he remarked presently."To--ah--allay suspicion." He looked across at his man as he spoke,through his lashes.

  It was not in Jim's nature to inquire into his master's affairs, muchless to be surprised at anything he might do or say. He was content toreceive and promptly execute his orders, and to worship Carstares with adog-like devotion, following blindly in his wake, happy as long as hemight serve him.

  Carstares had found him in France, very down upon his luck, having beendischarged from the service of his late master owing to the pennilesscondition of that gentleman's pocket. He had engaged him as his ownpersonal servant, and the man had remained with him ever since, provingan invaluable acquisition to my Lord John. Despite a singularly woodencountenance, he was by no means a fool, and he had helped Carstares outof more than one tight corner during his inglorious and foolhardy careeras highwayman. He probably understood his somewhat erratic master betterthan anyone else, and he now divined what was in his mind. He returnedthat glance with a significant wink.

  "'Twas them gentlemen ye held up to-day, sir?" he asked, jerking anexpressive thumb towards the window.

  "M'm. Mr. Bumble Bee and friend. It would almost appear so. I think I donot fully appreciate Mr. Bumble Bee. I find his conduct rather tiresome.But it is just possible that he thinks the same of me. I will further myacquaintance with him."

  Jim grunted scornfully, and an inquiring eye was cocked at him.

  "You do not admire our friend? Pray, do not judge him by his exterior.He may possess a beautiful mind. But I do not think so. N-no, I reallydo not think so." He chuckled a little. "Do you know, Jim, I believe Iam going to enjoy myself to-night!"

  "I don't doubt it, your honour. 'Twere child's play to trick the fatgentleman."

  "Probably. But it is not with the fat gentleman that I shall have todeal. 'Tis with all the officials of this charming town, an I mistakenot. Do I hear the small spider returning?"

  Salter stepped back to the window.

  "Ay, sir--with three others."

  "Pre-cisely. Be so good as to hand me my snuff-box. And my cane. Thankyou. I feel the time has now come for me to put in an appearance. Pray,bear in mind that I am new come from France and journey by