Noel stood still. He had stiffened somewhat at the words, but there was no dismay discernible about him. He faced that which had to be faced without flinching.
"You mean she knows?" he asked slowly.
"Yes," said Nick. "But I didn"t tell her."
"Did she remember, then?"
"Yes. It all came back to her."
"What effect did it have? Was she--is she very badly upset?" The sharp falter in the words betrayed more than the speaker knew.
Nick turned away from him, grinding his heel into the turf. "No. She took it remarkably quietly on the whole--seemed relieved to know the truth."
"And Max--did she mention him?"
"Yes. She seemed glad to know that he was not responsible, but rather hurt that he had thought it necessary to concoct a lie for her benefit."
"Exactly what I should have felt myself," said Noel. He paused a moment; then: "It was decent of you to let me into that secret," he observed.
"Oh, that was Sir Kersley"s doing." Nick still spoke with his back half-turned. "He tackled me on the subject, said you ought to know, but that Max was averse to it. Then I told him why. It seems that he hadn"t the vaguest notion till then as to why the engagement was broken off."
Noel nodded. "Just like Max! He"s a bit too clever sometimes. Well, what did he say when he knew?"
"He said that if Max wouldn"t take the responsibility of setting matters right, he would. And he advised me to tell you everything straight away; which I did," said Nick, "at peril of my life. I don"t know how Max will take it, but it will doubtless be on my devoted head that his wrath will descend."
"You"ll survive that," said Noel. "But look here! Tell me more about Olga! Wasn"t she horribly shocked--just at first?"
"It was touch and go," said Nick. "I followed Sir Kersley"s advice throughout. He didn"t want me to tell her outright, and I didn"t. The whole thing came to her gradually. Yes, it was a bit of a strain to begin with. But she has come through it all right. Give her time to settle, and I don"t think she will be any the worse."
"I see," said Noel. He relaxed very suddenly, and pa.s.sed a boyishly familiar arm around Nick"s shoulders. "Well, that cooks my goose, quite effectually, doesn"t it? Lucky it"s come to me gradually too. I shouldn"t have relished it all in a lump. The only person who is going to have a shock over this little business is Max. And you"ll admit he deserves one."
"What are you going to do?" asked Nick.
"Do? Send him a wire of course."
"Who? Max?"
"Yes, Max. And I shall say, "Come at once. Urgent. Noel." That"ll fetch him," said Noel with a twinkle. "He"s making a speciality of me just now. He ought to be here before eight."
"And what about Olga?"
"Leave Olga to me!" said Noel.
Nick glanced up at him, and abruptly did so. "You"re a sportsman, my son," he observed affectionately. "But to return to Max, doesn"t it occur to you that it may not be precisely convenient for him to come posting down here at a moment"s notice? He"s an important man, remember."
But Noel here displayed a touch of his old imperious spirit. "Who the devil cares for Max?" he demanded. "He"s just got to come; and if he doesn"t like it, he can go hang. Surely a fellow may be permitted to settle who is to be asked to his own funeral!"
"Oh, if you put it like that--" said Nick.
"Well, it is like that; see?" There was a comic touch to Noel"s tragedy notwithstanding, and Nick divined with a satisfaction that he was careful to conceal that the _role_ he had taken upon himself was not altogether distasteful to him. The funeral arrangements obviously had their attractive side.
"Well, my boy, fix it up as you think best!" he said, giving him as ample a squeeze as his one arm could compa.s.s. "You"re a soldier and a gentleman, and whatever you do will have my full approval."
"What ho!" said Noel, highly gratified.
They parted then, going their several ways. Noel to send his message, Nick in pursuit of the two children. And so the rest of the afternoon wore away.
Muriel had tea laid in the old oak-panelled dining-room, and thither Nick presently marshalled his charges, to find his wife serenely waiting for them in solitude.
"Hasn"t Olga come in yet?" he asked.
"Yes, dear, some time ago. But she looked so tired, poor child!" said Muriel. "I persuaded her to go up to her room and lie down. She has had some tea."
"She will be all right?" asked Nick quickly.
"I think so. She looks quite worn out. She seems to need a sleep more than anything," said Muriel.
He gave her a quick look. "You saw Noel?"
"Yes. He came in and talked for a few minutes after he left you. He seems a very nice boy." A faint smile touched Muriel"s lips.
Nick laughed, pulling her hand round his neck as she brought him his tea. "Lost your heart to him, eh? It"s quite the usual thing to do.
Where has he gone?"
"He came over in Jim"s motor, and has gone away in it again. He didn"t say where he was going."
"Gone away without me!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Peggy in consternation.
"He"ll come back again, my chicken. Don"t you worry!" said Nick. "Here!
Have a jam sandwich!"
"I want Noel," said Peggy. "Where is Noel?"
"He has gone out on business," said Nick. "Which reminds me," he added to Muriel. "His brother Max will probably be here this evening to spend the night."
"Max!"
"Yes. Don"t mention it upstairs! Noel is pulling the wires, so be prepared for anything."
"What wires is Noel pullin"?" Peggy wanted to know.
"Telegraph wires," said Reggie brightly.
"Yes, telegraph wires," chuckled Nick. "I think I"ll just go up for a second, Muriel. I shan"t wake her up if she"s asleep."
He was gone with the words, swift and noiseless as a bird on the wing, and five seconds later was scratching very softly at Olga"s door.
Her voice bade him enter immediately, and he went in.