The Amateur Gentleman Part 105

"Yes, was,--for begad! when I called on my man this morning he'd bolted, damme if he hadn't!"

"Gone?" exclaimed the Marquis in blank amazement.

"Clean gone! Bag and baggage! I tell you he's bolted, but--with all due respect to you, Marquis, only from his creditors. He was devilish deep in with Gaunt, I know, beside Beverley here. Oh damme yes, he only did it to bilk his creditors, for Carnaby was always game, curse me if he wasn't!"

Hereupon the Marquis had recourse to his snuff-box again.

"Under the circ.u.mstances," said he, sighing and shaking his head, "I think I'll go and talk with our invalid--"

"No good, my boy, if you mean Devenham," said Tressider, shaking his head, "just been there,--Viscount's disappeared too--been away all night!"

"What?" cried Barnabas, springing to his feet, "gone?"

"Damme if he hasn't! Found his fellow in the devil of a way about it, and his little rascal of a groom blubbering on the stairs."

"Then I must dress! You'll excuse me, I know!" said Barnabas, and rang for Peterby. But his hand was even yet upon the bellrope when stumbling feet were heard outside, the door was flung wide, and the Viscount himself stood upon the threshold.

Pale and haggard of eye, dusty and unkempt, he leaned there, then staggering to a chair he sank down and so lay staring at the floor.

"Oh, Bev!" he groaned, "she's gone--Clemency's gone, I--I can't find her, Bev!"

Now hereupon the Marquis very quietly took up his hat and, nodding to Barnabas, linked his arm in Tressider's and went softly from the room, closing the door behind him.

"d.i.c.k!" cried Barnabas, bending over him, "my dear fellow!"

"Ever since you spoke, I--I've wanted her, Bev. All through my illness I've hungered for her--the sound of her voice,--the touch of her hand. As soon as I was strong enough--last night, I think it was--I went to find her, to--to kneel at her feet, Bev. I drove down to Frittenden and oh, Bev--she was gone! So I started back--looking for her all night. My arm bothered me--a bit, you know, and I didn't think I could do it. But I kept fancying I saw her before me in the dark. Sometimes I called to her--but she--never answered, she's--gone, Bev, and I--"

"Oh, d.i.c.k--she left there weeks ago--"

"What--you knew?"

"Yes, d.i.c.k."

"Then oh, Bev,--tell me where!"

"d.i.c.k, I--can't!"

"Why--why?"

"I promised her to keep it secret."

"Then--you won't tell me?"

"I can't."

"Won't! won't! Ah, but you shall, yes, by G.o.d!"

"d.i.c.k, I--"

"By G.o.d, but you shall, I say you shall--you must--where is she?"

The Viscount's pale cheek grew suddenly suffused, his eyes glared fiercely, and his set teeth gleamed between his pallid lips.

"Tell me!" he demanded.

"No," said Barnabas, and shook his head.

Then, in that moment the Viscount sprang up and, pinning him with his left hand, swung Barnabas savagely to the wall.

"She's mine!" he panted, "mine, I tell you--no one shall take her from me, neither you nor the devil himself. She's mine--mine. Tell me where she is,--speak before I choke you--speak!"

But Barnabas stood rigid and utterly still. Thus, in a while, the griping fingers fell away, the Viscount stepped back, and groaning, bowed his head.

"Oh, Bev," said he, "forgive me, I--I'm mad I think. I want her so and I can't find her. And I had a spill last night--dark road you see, and only one hand,--and I'm not quite myself in consequence. I'll go--"

But, as he turned toward the door, Barnabas interposed.

"d.i.c.k, I can't let you go like this--what do you intend to do?"

"Will you tell me where she is?"

"No, but--"

"Then, sir, my further movements need not concern you."

"d.i.c.k, be reasonable,--listen--"

"Have the goodness to let me pa.s.s, sir."

"You are faint, worn out--stay here, d.i.c.k, and I--"

"Thanks, Beverley, but I accept favors from my friends only--pray stand aside."

"d.i.c.k, if you'll only wait, I'll go to her now--this moment--I'll beg her to see you--"

"Very kind, sir!" sneered the Viscount, "you are--privileged it seems.

But, by G.o.d, I don't need you, or any one else, to act as go-between or plead my cause. And mark me, sir! I'll find her yet. I swear to you I'll never rest until I find her again. And now, sir, once and for all, I have the honor to wish you a very good day!" saying which the Viscount bowed, and, having re-settled his arm in its sling, walked away down the corridor, very upright as to back, yet a little uncertain in his stride nevertheless, and so was gone.

Then Barnabas, becoming aware of the polite letters, and cards, embossed, gilt-edged and otherwise, swept them incontinent to the floor and, sinking into a chair, set his elbows upon the table, and leaning his head upon his hands fell into a gloomy meditation. It was thus that the Gentleman-in-Powder presently found him, and, advancing into the room with insinuating legs, coughed gently to attract his attention, the which proving ineffectual, he spoke:

"Ex-cuse me, sir, but there is a--person downstairs, sir--at the door, sir!"

"What kind of person?" inquired Barnabas without looking up.

"A most ex-tremely low person, sir--very common indeed, sir. Won't give no name, sir, won't go away, sir. A very 'orrid person--in gaiters, sir."

"What does he want?" said Barnabas, with head still bent.

"Says as 'ow 'e 'as a letter for you, sir, but--"

Barnabas was on his feet so quickly that the Gentleman-in-Powder recoiled in alarm.