The Daltons Volume I Part 39

"I can scarcely say so," rejoined he, attempting a laugh. "My book turned out very unfortunately."

"I heard so," was the short reply; and in a tone so dry and significant that a dead silence followed.

"Pretty spaniel, that," said Norwood, trying a slight sortie into the enemy's camp. "A present, I suppose, from Midchekoff?"

"Yes."

"It is not clean bred, however, no more than his late master. Have you seen much of the Prince?"

"He comes here every evening, after the Opera."

"What a bore that must be he is a most insufferable proser."

"I must say I disagree with you; I reckon him excessively agreeable."

"How changed you must be, Hes--Lady Hester."

"I believe I am, my Lord."

"And yet you look the same the very same as when we sauntered for hours through the old woods at Dipsley." She blushed deeply; less, perhaps, at the words, than at the look which accompanied them.

"Is this your newly found niece or cousin?" said Norwood, as he pointed to the portrait of Kate Dal ton.

"Yes. Is n't she pretty?"

"The picture is."

"She is much handsomer, however, a charming creature in every respect, as you will confess when you see her."

"And for what high destiny is she meant? Is she to be a Russian Princess, a d.u.c.h.essa of Italy, or the goodwife of an unt.i.tled Englishman?"

"She may have her choice, I believe, of either of the three--."

"Happy girl!" said he half scornfully; "and when may I hope to behold so much excellence?"

"To-day, if you like to dine here."

"I should like it much but but--"

"But what?"

"It's better to be frank at once, Hester," said he, boldly, "and say that I feel you are grown very cold and distant toward me. This is not your old manner, this not exactly the reception I looked for. Now, if you have any cause for this, would it not be better and fairer to speak it out openly than continue to treat me in this slighting fas.h.i.+on? You are silent, so there is something; pray let's hear it."

"What of Newmarket?" said she, in a low voice, so faint as almost to be a whisper.

"So that's it," said he, as he folded his arms and looked steadfastly at her.

There was something in the cold and steady gaze he bestowed upon her that abashed, if not actually alarmed, Lady Hester. She had seen the same look once or twice before, and always as the prelude to some terrible evidence of his temper.

"Lady Hester," said he, in a low, distinct, and very slow voice, as though he would not have her lose a word he spoke, "the explanation which a man would ask for at the peril of his life ought not, in common justice, to be quite costless to a lady. It is perfectly possible that you may not care for the price, be it so; only I warn you that if you wish for any information on the subject you allude to, _I_ will inquire whether--"

Here he dropped his voice, and whispered two or three words rapidly in her ear, after which she lay back, pale, sick, and almost fainting, without strength to speak or even to move.

"Do not say, or still less feel, that this contest is of my provoking.

Never was any man less in the humor to provoke hostilities, and particularly from old friends. I have just had bad luck, the very worst of bad luck. I have lost everything but my head; and even that, cool and calculating as it is, may go too if I be pushed too far. Now you have a frank and free confession from me. I have told you more than I would to any other living, more, perhaps, than I ought even to you."

"Then what do you intend to do here?" asked she, faintly.

"Wait wait patiently for awhile. Fix upon anyone that I can discover mutters a syllable to my discredit, and shoot him as I would a dog."

"There may be some who, without openly discussing, will shun your society, and avoid your intercourse."

"Sir Stafford, for instance," said he, with an insolent laugh. She nodded slightly, and he went on: "My Lady's influence will, I am certain, set me right in that quarter."

"I may be unequal to the task."

"You can at least try, madam."

"I have tried, Norwood. I have gone the length of declaring that I disbelieved every story against you, that I reposed the most implicit faith in your honor, and that I would certainly receive you and admit your visits as heretofore."

"And, of course, you'll keep your word?"

"If you exact it."

"Of course I shall! Hester, this is no time for quibbling. I 've got into a mess, the worst of all the bad sc.r.a.pes which have ever befallen me. A little time and a little management will pull me through but I must have both; nor is it in such a place, and with such a society as this, a man need fear investigation. I came here, as formerly one went to live 'within the rules.' Let me, at least, have the benefit of the protection for condescending to the locality."

"Sir Stafford, my Lady," said a servant, throwing open the door; and the old Baronet entered hastily, and, without deigning to notice Lord Norwood, walked straight up to Lady Hester, and said a few words in a low voice.

Affecting to occupy himself with the books upon the table, Norwood watched the dialogue with keen but stealthy glances, and then, as the other turned suddenly round, said,

"How d' ye do, Sir Stafford? I am glad to see you looking so well."

"I thank you, my Lord; I am perfectly well," said he, with a most repelling coldness.

"You are surprised to see me in Florence, for certain," said the other, with a forced laugh.

"Very much surprised to see you here, my Lord," was the abrupt reply.

"Ha! ha! ha! I thought so!" cried Norwood, laughing, and pretending not to feel the point of the remark. "But, nowadays, one flits about the world in slippers and dressing-gown, and travelling inflicts no fatigue.

I only left England ten days ago."

"The post comes in seven, my Lord," said Sir Stafford. "I have had letters this morning, written this day week, and which give the last events in Town Life up to the very hour."

"Indeed! and what's the news, then?" said he, negligently.

"If your Lords.h.i.+p will favor me with your company for a few minutes, I may be able to enlighten you," said Sir Stafford, moving towards the door.

"With the greatest pleasure. Good-bye, Lady Hester," said he, rising.

"You said seven o'clock dinner, I think?"