"Warburton, I- Oh, do you think it means nothing to me that John is outcast?"
Before the misery in those grey eyes some of Warburton"s severity fell away from him.
"Master Richard, I want to think the best I can of you. Master Jack would tell me nothing. Will you notcan you not explain how it came that you allowed him to bear the blame of your cheat?"
Richard shuddered.
"There"s no explanationno excuse. I forced it on him! On Jack, my brother! Because I was mad for love of Lavinia- Oh, my G.o.d, the thought of it is driving me crazed! I thought I could forget; and thenand thenI met him! The sight of him brought it all back to me. Ever since that day I have not known how to live and not shriek the truth to everyone! And I never shall! I never shall!"
"Tell me, sir," pleaded Warburton, touched in spite of himself.
Richard"s head sunk into his hands.
"The whole scene is a nightmare. . . . I think I must have been mad. . . I scarce knew what I was about. I-"
"Gently, sir. Remember I know hardly anything. What induced you to mark the cards?"
"That debt to Gundry. My father would not meet it; I had to find the money. I could not face the scandalI tell you I was mad for Lavinia! I could think of nought else. I ceased to care for John because I thought him in love with her. I could not bear to think of the disgrace which would take her from me. . . . Then that night at Dare"s. I was losing; I knew I could not pay. Gad! but I can see my notes of hand under Milward"s elbow, growing. . . growing.
"Jack had played Milward before me, and he had won. I remember they laughed at him, saying his luck had turned at lastfor he always lost at cards. Milward and I played with the same pack that they had used. . . . There was another table, I think. Dare was dicing with Fitzgerald; someone was playing faro with Jack behind me. I heard Jack say his luck was out againI heard them laugh. . . . And all the time I was losing. . . losing.
"The pin of my cravat fell out on to my knee. I think no one saw it. As I picked it up the thought that I should mark the cards seemed to flash into my mindoh, it was despicable, I know! I held the ace of clubs in my hand: I scratched it with that pinin one corner. It was easily done. By degrees I marked all four, and three of the kings.
"No one noticed, but I was nervousI dared do no more. I replaced that pin. Soon I began to winnot very much. Then Tracy Belmanoir came across the room to watch our play. From that moment everything seemed to go awry. It was the beginning of the trouble.
"Tracy stood behind me watching. . . . I could feel him there, like some black moth, hovering. . . . I don"t know how long he stayed like that.i.t seemed hours. I could feel his eyes. . . . I could have shriekedI"ll swear my hands were trembling.
"Suddenly he moved. I had played the ace of hearts. He said: "One moment!" in that soft, sinister voice of his.
"Milward was surprised. I tried to tell myself that Devil had noticed nothing. . . . The mark on that card was so faint that I could scarce see it myself. I thought it impossible that he, a mere onlooker, should discover it. He stepped forward. I remember he brushed my shoulder. I remember how the light caught the diamonds he was wearing. I think my brain was numbed. I could only repeat to myself: "Extravagant Devil! Extravagant Devil!" and stare at those winking jewels. Then I thought: "He is Lavinia"s brother, but I do not like him; I do not like him. . . "little foolish things like thatand my throat was dryparched.
"He bent over the table. . . stretched out his white, white hand. . . turned over the ace. . .
lifted his quizzing gla.s.s. . . and stared down at the card. Then he dropped the gla.s.s and drew out his snuff-box. . . . It had Aphrodite enamelled on the lid. I remember it so distinctly. . . . I heard Tracy ask Milward to examine the ace. I wanted to spring up and strangle him. . . . I could scarce keep my hands still." Richard paused. He drew his hand across his eyes, shuddering.
"Milward saw the scratch. He cried out that the cards were marked! Suddenly everyone seemed to be gathered about our tableall talking! Jack had his hand on my shoulder; he and Dare were running through the pack. But all the while I could look at no one but TracyAndover. He seemed so sinister, so threatening, in those black clothes of his. His eyes were almost shuthis face so white And he was looking at me! He seemed to be reading my very soul. . . . For an instant I thought he knew! I wanted to shout out that he was wrong! I wanted to shriek to him to take his eyes away! Heaven knows what I should have done! . . . but he looked awayat Jack, with that sneering smile on his d.a.m.ned mask of a face! I could have killed him for that smile! I think Jack understood ithe dropped the cards, staring at Tracy.
"Everyone was watching them. . . no one looked at me. If they had they must surely have learnt the truth; but they were hanging on Andover"s lips, looking from him to Jack and back again. . . . I remember Fitzgerald dropped his handkerchiefI was absurdly interested in that. I was wondering why he did not pick it up, when Andover spoke again. . . . "And Carstares" luck turned. . . . ?" Like that, Warburton! With just that faint, questioning in his voice.
"Before Jack could speak there was an outcry. Dare cried "Shame!" to Andover. They laughed at him, as well they might. But I saw them exchange glancesthey were wondering. . . . It was suspicious that Jack should have had that run of luckand that he should lose as soon as he left that table.
"Milwardpoor, silly Milwardgaped at Tracy and stuttered that surely "twas another pack we had used. I could hardly breathe! Then Andover corrected him- How did he know? No one else remembered, or thought of noticingonly he! . . .
"I can see Jack now, standing there so stiffly, with his head thrown up, and those blue eyes of his flashing.
""Do I understand you to accuse me, Belmanoir?" he said. Oh, but he was furious!
"Tracy never said a word. Only his eyes just flickered to my face and away again.
"Jack"s hand was gripping my shoulder hard. I could feel his anger. . . . Dare called out that the suggestion was preposterous. That John should cheat!
"Tracy asked him if the cards were his. Gad! I can hear his soft, mocking voice now!
"Dare went purpleyou know his way, Warburton.
""Opened in your presence on this table!" he cried.
""By Carstares!" smiled Tracy.
"It was true. But why should Tracy remember it, and none other? They stared at him, amazed. Dare turned to Jack for corroboration. He nodded. I think he never looked haughtier. . . .
"You know how fond of Jack Dare was? He tried to bl.u.s.ter it offtried to get control over the affair. It was to no avail. We were puppets, worked by that devil, Belmanoir!
One man managing that ghastly scene. . . He pointed out that only three of us had used that pack: Jack, Milward and I.
"Jack laughed.
""Next you will accuse d.i.c.k!" he snapped scornfully.
""One of you, certainly," smiled Andover. "Or Milward."
"Then everyone realised that one of us three must have marked the cards. Milward was upset, but no one suspected him. It was Jackor me.
"As long as I live I shall never forget the horror of those moments. If I were exposed it meant the end o everything between Lavinia and me. I tell you, Warburton, I would have committed any sin at that moment! Nothing would have been too blackI could not bear to lose her. You don"t know what she meant to me!"
"I can guess, sir," said the lawyer, gravely "No, no! No one could imagine the depths of my love for her! I think not even Jack. . . .
I felt his hand leave my shoulder. . . . The truth had dawned on him. I heard the way the breath hissed between his teeth as he realised. . . . Somehow I got to my feet, clutching at the table, facing him. I don"t excuse myselfI know my conduct was beyond words dastardly. I looked across at himjust said his name, as though I could scarce believe my ears. So all those watching thought. But Jack knew better. He knew I was imploring him to save me. He understood all that I was trying to convey to him. For an instant he stared at me. I thoughtI thoughtG.o.d forgive me, I prayed that he might take the blame on himself. Then he smiled. Coward though I was, when I saw that hurt, wistful little smile on his lips, I nearly blurted out the whole truth. Not quite. . . . I suppose I was too mean-spirited for that.
"Jack bowed to the room and again to Dare. He said: "I owe you an apology, sir."
"Dare sprang forward, catching him by the shouldercrying out that it could not be true!
When Jack laughedhe fell away from him as fromthe plague. And all of them! My G.o.d, to see them drawing awaynot looking at Jack! And Jack"s facegrowing paler and harder . . . every moment. . . . All his friends. . . turning their backs to him. Davenant even Jim Davenant walked away to the fireplace with Evans.
"I could not look at Jack. I dared not. I could not go to himstand by him! I had not the right. I had to leave him therein the middle of the roomalone. The awful hurt in his eyes made me writhe. The room was whirling roundI felt sickI know I fell back into my chair, hiding my face. I hardly cared whether they suspected me or not. But they did not. They knew how great was the love between us, and they were not surprised that I broke down.
"I heard Andover"s soft voice. . . he was telling some tale to Dare. Oh, they were well-bred those men! They skimmed over the unpleasant little episodeignored Jack!
"Jack spoke again. I could guess how bravely he was keeping a proud front. I know word for word what he said: "Mr. Dare, your Grace, Gentlemen- my apologies for being the cause of so unpleasant an incident. Pray give me leave."
"They paid no heed. I heard him walk to the doorheard him open it. I could not look at him. Hehe paused. . . and said just one word: "d.i.c.k!" quite softly. Heaven knows how I got to him! I know I overturned my chair. That drew Dare"s attention. He said: "You are not going, d.i.c.k?" I shouted "Yes," at him, and then Jack took my arm, leading me out.
"Andand all he said was: "Poor old d.i.c.k!". . . Hehe had no word of blame for me. He would not allow me to go back and tell the truthas I would have done. Ay, Warburton, when Jack called me to him, I could have cried it aloudbuthe would not have it. . . .
He said: "For Lavinia"s sake." . . . "
Warburton blew his nose violently. His fingers were trembling.
"You know what happened afterwards. You know how my father turned Jack out pennilessyou know how his friends shunned himyou know my poor mother"s grief.
And you know that he went awaythat we could not find him whenmy mother died. . .
. His last words to mewere: "Make Laviniahappyand try to forgetall this." Forget it!
Heavens! Try as I might, I could hear nothing further of him until two months ago, when hewaylaid me. Then I was half-dazed at the suddenness of it. Hehe grasped my handandlaughed! It was so dark, I could scarce see him. I only had time to demand his address, and thenhe was offgalloping away over the heath. I thinkeven thenhe bore no malice."
"He does not now!" said Warburton sharply. "But, Master d.i.c.k, if all this is true, why do you not even now clear him? Surely-"
Richard turned his head slowly.
"Now I may not drag my wife"s name through the mud. By clearing himI ruin her."
Warburton could find nothing to say. Only after some time did he clear his throat and say that he was honoured by Carstares" confidence.
"Youahyou dwell on the part played by his Grace on that evening. Surely yourshall we sayoverwrought imagination magnified that?"
Richard was disinterested.
"I suppose so. Mayhap "twas his extraordinary personality dominating me. He cannot have pulled the wires as I thought he did. Not even Belmanoir could make me act as I did. Butbut at the time I felt that he was pushingpushingcompelling me to accuse Jack. Oh, doubtless I was mad!"
Warburton eyed the dejected figure compa.s.sionately. Then he seemed to harden himself and to regain some of his lost primness of manner.
"Youahyou are determined not to accept the revenues, sir?"
"I have not yet sunk so low, Mr. Warburton."
"His lordship leaves Wyncham and all appertaining to it at your disposal. He would be grieved at your refusal."
"I will not touch it."
The lawyer nodded.
"I confess, Mr. Carstares, I am relieved to hear you say that. It will not be necessary again to communicate with his lordship. I think he does not desire any intercourse with his family. He finds it too painful. But he wished to be remembered to you, sir. Also to her ladyship."
"Thank you. . . . You couldascertain nothing of his situation? He did not confide in you?"
"He was very reticent, sir. I think he is not unhappy."
"And notembittered?"
"Certainly not that, sir."
Mr. Warburton rose, plainly anxious to be gone.
Reluctantly Richard followed his example.
"Youhave nothing further to tell me of him?"
"I regret, sirnothing."
Richard went slowly to the door, and opened it.
"You must allow me to thank you, sir, for your goodness in undertaking what I know must have been a painful task. I am very grateful."
Mr. Warburton bowed low.
"I beg you will not mention it, sir. Nothing I might do for the Carstares could be aught but a pleasure."
Again he bowed, and the next instant was gone.
CHAPTER IV.
INTRODUCING THE LADY LAVINIA CARSTARES.
RICHARD went slowly back to his chair. After a moment he sat down, staring blankly out of the window, his hands loosely clasped on the desk before him. So he remained for a long while, immobile. At last, with the faintest of sighs, he moved and picked up a quill. He dipped it in the ink, and, with his other hand, drew towards him a sheaf of papers. Presently he was writing steadily.
For perhaps twenty minutes the quill travelled to and fro across the pages; then it paused, and Richard looked up towards the door.
It opened to admit Lady Lavinia. She came rustling into the room with her embroidery in her hand. She dropped her husband a mock curtsey and went over to a high-backed armchair, stretching out a dimpled hand to draw it forward. But even as her fingers touched it she had changed her mind, and fluttered over to the couch, there to seat herself with much swirling of brocades and arrangement of skirts. She then proceeded to occupy herself with her work, plying her needle hurriedly and jerkily.
A Plum Coloured Shot Silk Flowered Brocade Dress. 1755-75.
from Old English Costumes, c. 1908, p.21.
Richard watched her in silence, following each turn of the pretty hand and each movement of her fair head.
The silence was evidently not to my lady"s taste, for she presently began to beat an impatient tattoo on the floor with one slender foot. Still he said nothing, and she raised her pure china-blue eyes to his face.
"Why so glum, d.i.c.k? Why do you not talk to me?" Her voice was rather high-pitched and childish, and she had a curious way of ending each sentence with an upward lilt and a long drawn-out accent, very fascinating to listen to.
Richard smiled with an obvious effort.
"Am I, my dear? I crave your pardon. Warburton has just been."
Her face clouded over instantly, and the full-lipped mouth drooped petulantly.