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

  CHAPTER XXVIII

  IN WHICH WHAT THREATENED TO BE TRAGEDY TURNS TO COMEDY

  With a smothered cry Diana flew across the room to where my lord lay ina pitiful little heap, but before her was Richard. He fell on his kneesbeside the still figure, feeling for the wound.

  Diana, on the other side, looked across at him.

  "'Tis his shoulder, sir--an old wound. Oh, he is not--he cannotbe--_dead_?"

  Richard shook his head dumbly and gently laid bare the white shoulder.The wound was bleeding very slightly, and they bound it deftly betwixtthem, with their united handkerchiefs and a napkin seized from thetable.

  "'Tis exhaustion, I take it," frowned Richard, his hand before the palelips. "He is breathing still."

  Over her shoulder Diana shot an order:

  "One of you men, please fetch water and cognac!"

  "At once, madam!" responded Andrew promptly, and hurried out.

  She bent once more over my lord, gazing anxiously into his face.

  "He will live? You--are sure? He--he must have rid all the way fromMaltby--for me!" She caught her breath on a sob, pressing one lifelesshand to her lips.

  "For you, madam?" Richard looked an inquiry.

  She blushed.

  "Yes--he--we--I--"

  "I see," said Richard gravely.

  She nodded.

  "Yes, and--and the Duke--caught me, and--brought me here--and--and then_he_ came--and saved me!"

  The air blowing in from the window stirred the ruffles of my lord'sshirt, and blew a strand of her dark hair across Diana's face. Shecaught it back and stared at Richard with a puzzled air.

  "Pardon me, sir--but you are so like him!"

  "I am his brother," answered Richard shortly.

  Her eyes grew round with surprise.

  "His _brother_, sir? I never knew Mr. Carr had a brother!"

  "Mr.--who?" asked Richard.

  "Carr. It is not his name, is it? I heard the Duke call himCarstares--and--my lord."

  "He is the Earl of Wyncham," answered Richard, stretching out a hand torelieve Andrew of the jug of water he was proffering.

  "Good--gracious!" gasped Diana. "B-but he said he was a highwayman!"

  "Quite true, madam."

  "True? But how--how ridiculous--and how like him!"

  She soaked a handkerchief in the water, and bathed my lord's forehead.

  "He is not coming to in the least," she said nervously. "You are sure'tis not--not--"

  "Quite. He'll come round presently. You said he had ridden far?"

  "He must have, sir--I wish he were not so pale--he was staying with theO'Haras at Maltby."

  "What? The O'Haras?"

  "Yes--and he must have ridden from there--and his wound still sotender!" Again she kissed the limp hand.

  Over by the window his Grace, his breath recovered, was eyeing Andrewthrough his quizzing-glass.

  "May I inquire what brings you here?" he asked sweetly. "And why you sawfit to bring the saintly Richard?"

  "I came because it suited me to do so. I never dreamed you werehere--'Pon my soul, I did not!"

  "Where then did you think I was?"

  "Never thought about you at all, my dear fellow. I'm not your squire."

  "Why is Richard here?"

  "Lord, what a catechism! He is here because he brought me with him onhis way to Wyncham. Have you any objection?"

  "It would be useless," shrugged Tracy. "Have I killed that young fool?"

  Andrew looked him over in disgust.

  "No, you have not. You have barely touched him, thanks be."

  "Dear me! Why this sudden affection for Carstares?"

  Andrew swung round on his heel, remarking over his shoulder:

  "He may be a cheat, but he's a damned fine fellow. By Gad! he nearlypinked you as I entered!" He chuckled at the memory of that gloriousmoment.

  "He nearly pinked me a dozen times," replied Tracy, binding his armround more tightly. "He fights like ten devils. But he was fatigued."

  He followed Andrew across the room and stood looking down at hisunconscious foe.

  Diana's eyes challenged him.

  "Stand back, your Grace! You have no more to do here!"

  He drew out his snuff-box and took a pinch.

  "So that is how the matter lies, my dear. I did not know that."

  "You pretend that it would have made a difference in your treatment ofme?"

  "Not the slightest, child," he replied, shutting the box with a snap."It has merely come as a slight surprise to me. It seems he has the luckthis round." He walked away again as another great bell-peal soundedthrough the house.

  Andrew, pouring cognac into a glass, paused with bottle held in mid-air.

  "Thunder and turf! We are like to be a party! Who now?" He set the glassdown and lounged out of the room, bottle in hand. They heard him give anastonished cry and a loud laugh, and the next moment O'Hara strode intothe room, booted and spurred and enveloped in a heavy surcoat. He cameswiftly upon the little group about my lord and went down on one kneebeside him. His eyes seemed to take in everyone at a glance. Then helooked across at Richard.

  "Is he alive?"

  Richard nodded, not meeting the hard, anxious gaze.

  O'Hara bent over his friend.

  "He has been wounded?"

  Diana answered this.

  "Only slightly, Sir Miles, but 'twas his shoulder again. He was tiredafter the ride--Mr. Carstares thinks he has fainted from exhaustion."

  O'Hara very gently slipped one arm beneath my lord's shoulders and theother under his knees, rising with him as easily as if he were carryinga baby. He walked over to the couch, lowering his burden on to thecushions that Diana placed to receive him.

  "He will be easier there," he said, and looked across at her.

  "Ye are quite safe, child?"

  "Quite--quite--He came just in time--and fought for me." She dabbedopenly at her eyes. "I--I love him so, Sir Miles--and now I hear that heis an Earl!" she sighed.

  "Well, child, 'twill make no difference, I take it. I hope he'll make yehappy."

  She smiled through her tears very confidently.

  O'Hara turned and faced Richard, who was standing a little in the rear,watching his brother's face. He met O'Hara's scathing look squarely.

  "Well?"

  "Nought," answered the Irishman cuttingly, and walked over to where LordAndrew was arguing hotly with his brother.

  Carstares returned to my lord's side and stood looking silently down athim.

  Diana suddenly gave a little joyful cry.

  "He is coming round! He moved his head! Oh, Jack, my dear one, look atme!" She bent over him with eyes alight with love.

  My lord's eyelids flickered and opened. For a moment he stared at her.

  "Why--Diana!" She took his head between her hands and kissed him full onthe mouth. Then she raised his head to look into the blue eyes.

  My lord's arm crept round her and held her tight against him. After amoment she disengaged herself and stood aside. Jack's eyes, still alittle bewildered, fell upon his brother. He struggled up on his elbow.

  "Am I dreaming? _Dick_!" His voice was full of a great joy. Richard wentquickly to him, trying to put him back on the cushions.

  "My dear Jack--no, no--lie still!"

  "Lie still?" cried my lord, swinging his feet to the ground. "Not a bitof it! I am well enough, but a trifle dizzy. How in thunder did you comehere? Surely 'twas you knocked up my sword? Yes? Interfering young cub!Give me your arm a minute!"

  "But why do you want to get up?" pleaded a soft voice in his ear.

  "So that I can take you in my arms, sweetheart," he answered, andproceeded to do so.

  Then his glance, wandering round the room, alighted on the heated groupby the table; Andrew vociferously indignant, Tracy coolly sarcastic, andO'Hara furious.

  "Tare an' ouns!" ejaculated my lord. "Where _did_ they all spring from?"

  "I don't quite know!" laughed Diana. "Sir Miles came a fe