The chain of brittle gla.s.s that bound the captive beside her grew stronger. A wife who could bewitch the hours away with such music as this would be no undesirable possession for a _blase_ man. He stooped over her as she arose from the piano at last.
"Come out on the balcony," he said. "The night is lovely, and the good people yonder are altogether engrossed in their cards and their small-talk."
Without a word she stepped with him from the open French window out into the starlit night.
What is it that Byron says about solitude, and moonlight, and youth? A dangerous combination, truly; and so Sir Everard Kingsland found, standing side by side with this pale daughter of a hundred earls. But the irrevocable words were not destined to be spoken, for just then George Grosvenor, goaded to jealous desperation, stalked out through the open cas.e.m.e.nt and joined them.
The midnight moon was sailing up to the zenith as Sir Everard rode home. His road was a lonely one through Brithlow Wood, which shortened his journey by over a mile; but his thoughts were pleasant ones, and he hummed, as he rode, the songs Lady Louise had sung.
"Confound that m.u.f.f, Grosvenor!" he thought. "If it had not been for his impertinent intrusion, the matter would have been safely settled by this time--and settled pleasantly too, I take it; for, without being a conceited noodle, I really think Lady Louise will say yes. Ah! what"s this?"
For out of the starlit darkness, from among the trees, started up a giant black figure, and his horse was grasped by the bridle and hurled back upon his haunches.
"You villain," the young man dauntlessly cried, "let go my bridle-rein!
Who are you? What do you want?"
"I"m d.i.c.k Darkly," answered a deep, gruff voice, "and I want your heart"s blood!"
"You poaching scoundrel!" exclaimed Sir Everard, quick as lightning raising his riding-whip and slashing the aggressor across the face.
"Let go my horse"s head."
With a cry that was like the roar of a wild beast the man sprung hack.
The next instant, with a horrible oath, he had seized the young man and torn him out of the saddle.
"I"ll tear you limb from limb for that blow, by heavens!" d.i.c.k Darkly shouted. "If I hadn"t meant to kill you before, I would kill you for that cut of your whip. I"ve waited for you, Sir Everard Kingsland! I swore revenge, and revenge I"ll have! I"ll kill you this night, if they hang me for it to-morrow!"
He held his victim in a grip of iron, from which he struggled madly to get free, while the horse, with a shrill neigh of terror, started off riderless.
"I swore I"d kill you, Sir Everard Kingsland," d.i.c.k Darkly growled, "when you put my poor brother in Worrel Jail for snaring the miserable rabbits to keep his sick wife and children from starving. I swore it, and I"ll keep my oath. You told your gamekeeper this very day you would lash me like a dog, and duck me after. Aha, Sir Everard!
Where"s the horse-whip and the horse-pond now?"
"Here!" shouted the young baronet; and with a mighty effort he freed his arms, and raising the whip, slashed d.i.c.k Darkly for the second time across the face. "You murdering villain, you shall swing for this!"
With a blind roar of pain and rage, the murderer closed with his victim. They grappled, and rolled over and over in each other"s arms.
Panting and speechless, the death-struggle went on; but Sir Everard was no match for the burly giant. With a savage cry, the huge poacher thrust his hand into his belt, and a long, blue-bladed knife gleamed in the moon"s rays.
"At last!" he panted. "I"ll have your heart"s blood, as I swore I"d have it!"
He lifted the knife. Sir Everard Kingsland tried to gasp one last brief prayer in that supreme moment.
"Help!" he cried, with a last wild struggle--"help! help! murder!"
There was a rustling in the trees and some one sprung out. The last word was lost in the sharp report of a pistol, and with a scream of agony, d.i.c.k Darkly dropped his knife and fell backward on the gra.s.s.
CHAPTER VIII.
A MYSTERIOUS YOUNG MAN.
The baronet leaped to his feet, and stood face to face with his preserver. The giant trees, towering up until they seemed to pierce the sky, half shut out the moonlight, but yet Sir Everard could see that it was a slender stripling who stood before him, a slouched hat pulled far over his eyes.
"I owe you my life," he cried, grasping the youth"s hand. "An instant later, and I would have been in eternity. How shall I ever thank you?"
"Don"t make the attempt," replied the lad, coolly. "It was the merest chance-work in the world that sent me here to-night."
"Don"t call it chance, my boy. It was Providence sent you to save a life."
"Providence may have wished to save your life, and was not particular as to the means. Let us look to this fellow. I hope my shot has not killed him outright."
They both stooped over the fallen giant. d.i.c.k Darkly lay on his face, groaning dismally, the blood pumping from his chest with every breath.
"It"s an ugly-looking hole," said Sir Everard. "Two inches lower, and it would have gone straight through his heart. As it is, it will put a stop to his a.s.sa.s.sinating proclivities for awhile, I fancy. Lie still, you matchless scoundrel, while I try and stop this flow of blood."
He knelt beside the groaning man and endeavored to stanch the red gushing with his handkerchief. The youth stood by, gazing calmly on.
"What do you mean to do with him?" he asked.
"Send some of my people to take him to his home, and as soon as he is sufficiently recovered to stand his trial for attempted murder--"
"For G.o.d"s sake, Sir Everard!" faintly moaned the wounded man.
"Ah, you audacious villain, you can supplicate now! If I let you off this time, my life would not be worth an hour"s purchase."
"What did he call you?" asked the boy, with sudden, sharp anxiety in his tone. "Whose life have I saved?"
"I am Sir Everard Kingsland, of Kingsland Court," the baronet answered.
"And you are--who?"
"Sir Everard Kingsland! And I have saved your life!"
"For which Heaven be praised! It is a very pleasant world, this, and I have no desire just yet to leave it. Pray tell me the name of my preserver!"
"Never mind my name; it is of no consequence who I am. I have a long journey before me; I am very weary and footsore, and it is time I was on my way."
"Weary and footsore?" repeated the baronet. "Nay--then all the more need we should not part. Come home with me and rest--to-night, at least. I owe you a heavy debt, and I should like to pay a little of it."
"You owe me nothing!" His eyes gleamed under his hat and his teeth clinched as he spoke. "Nothing, Sir Everard Kingsland! Let us say good-bye. I must reach Worrel by sunrise."
"And so you shall. The fleetest steed in my stables shall carry you.
But come to Kingsland and rest for the night. If you will not accept my thanks, accept at least the shelter of my roof."
The boy seemed to hesitate.
The baronet look advantage of that momentary hesitation and drew his arm through his own. There was not a prouder man in wide England, but this unknown lad had saved his life, and Sir Everard was only two-and-twenty, and full of generous impulses.
"Come," he said, "don"t be obstinate. You own to being footsore and weary. Kingsland is very near, and a night"s rest will do you good."