The Knave of Diamonds

by Ethel M. Dell

  CHAPTER XV

  THE CHAMPION

  When Mrs. Errol remarked in her deep voice, that yet compassed theincomparable Yankee twang, that she guessed she wasn't afraid of any manthat breathed, none of those who heard the bold assertion ventured tocontradict her.

  Lucas Errol was entertaining a large house-party, and the great hallwas full of guests, most of whom had just returned from the day'ssport. The hubbub of voices was considerable, but Mrs. Errol's remarkwas too weighty to be missed, and nearly everyone left off talking tohear its sequel.

  Mrs. Errol, who was the soul of hospitality, but who, nevertheless,believed firmly in leaving people to amuse themselves in their own way,had only returned a few minutes before from paying a round of calls. Shewas wrapped in furs from head to foot, and her large, kindly face shoneout of them like a November sun emerging from a mass of cloud.

  There was a general scramble to wait upon her, and three cups of tea wereoffered her simultaneously, all of which she accepted with a nod ofthanks and a gurgle of laughter.

  "Put it down! I'll drink it presently. Where do you think I've just comefrom? And what do you think I've been doing? I'll wager my last dollar noone can guess."

  "Done!" said Nap coolly, as he pulled forward a chair to the blaze."You've been bearding the lion in his den, and not unsuccessfully, tojudge by appearances. In other words, you've been to the Manor and havedrunk tea with the lord thereof."

  Mrs. Errol subsided into the chair and looked round upon her interestedaudience. "Well," she said, "you're right there, Nap Errol, but Ishan't part with my last dollar to you, so don't you worry any aboutthat. Yes, I've been to the Manor. I've had tea with Anne Carfax. AndI've talked to the squire as straight as a mother. He was pretty mad atfirst, I can assure you, but I kept on hammering it into him till evenhe began to get tired. And after that I made my points. Oh, I wasmighty kind on the whole. But I guess he isn't under anymisapprehension as to what I think of him. And I'm going over to-morrowto fetch dear Anne over here to lunch."

  With which cheerful announcement Mrs. Errol took up one of her cups oftea and drank it with a triumphant air.

  "I told him," she resumed, "he'd better watch his reputation, for he wasbeginning to be regarded as the local Bluebeard. Oh, I was as frank asGeorge Washington. And I told him also that there isn't a man inside theU.S.A. that would treat a black as he treats his wife. I think thatsurprised him some, for he began to stutter, and then of course I had theadvantage. And I used it."

  "It must have been real edifying for Lady Carfax," drawled Nap.

  Mrs. Errol turned upon him. "I'm no bigger a fool than I look, Nap Errol.Lady Carfax didn't hear a word. We had it out in the park. I left themotor half way on purpose, and made his high mightiness walk down withme. He was pretty near speechless by the time I'd done with him, but hedid just manage at parting to call me an impertinent old woman. And Icalled him--a gentleman!"

  Mrs. Errol paused to swallow her second cup of tea.

  "I was wheezing myself by that time," she concluded. "But I'd had my say,and I don't doubt that he is now giving the matter his full and carefulattention, which after all is the utmost I can expect. It may not do dearAnne much good, but I guess it can't do her much harm anyway, and it wasbeer and skittles to me. Why, it's five weeks now since she left, andshe's only been over once in all that time, and then I gather there wassuch a row that she didn't feel like facing another till she was quitestrong again."

  "An infernal shame!" declared Bertie hotly. "I'll drive you over myselfto-morrow to fetch her. We'll get up some sports in her honour. I wonderif she likes tobogganing."

  "I wonder if she will come," murmured Nap.

  Mrs. Errol turned to her third cup. "She'll come," she said withfinality; and no one raised any further question on that point. Mrs.Errol in certain moods was known to be invincible.

  Though it was nearly the middle of March, the land was fast held in thegrip of winter. There had been a heavy fall of snow, and a continuousfrost succeeding it had turned Baronmead into an Alpine paradise.Tobogganing and skating filled the hours of each day; dancing made flythe hours of each night. Bertie had already conducted one ice gymkhanawith marked success, and he was now contemplating a masquerade on theornamental sheet of water that stretched before the house. Strings offairy lights were being arranged under his directions, and Chineselanterns bobbed in every bush.

  He was deeply engrossed in these preparations, but he tore himself awayto drive his mother to the Manor on the following morning. His alacrityto do this was explained when he told her that he wanted to drop into theRectory and persuade the rector to bring Dot that night to see the fun,to which plan Mrs. Errol accorded her ready approval, and even undertookto help with the persuading, to Bertie's immense gratification. He andhis mother never talked confidences, but they understood each other sothoroughly that words were superfluous.

  So they departed both in excellent spirits, while Lucas leaning uponNap's shoulder, went down to the lake to watch the skaters and tosuperintend Bertie's preparations for the evening's entertainment.

  The voices of the tobogganists reached them from a steep bit of groundhalf-a-mile away, ringing clearly on the frosty air.

  "The other side of that mound is tip-top for skiing," remarked Nap,"better than you would expect in this country. But no one here seemsparticularly keen on it. I was out early this morning and tried severalplaces that were quite passable, but that mound was the best!"

  "After dancing till three," commented Lucas. "What a restlessfellow you are!"

  Nap laughed a somewhat hard laugh. "One must do something. I never sleepafter dawn. It's not my nature."

  "You'll wear yourself to a shadow," smiled Lucas. "There's little enoughof you as it is--nothing but fire and sinew!"

  "Oh, rats, my dear fellow! I'm as tough as leather. There would need tobe something very serious the matter for me to lie in bed after daylight.Just look at that woman doing eights! It's a sight to make you shudder."

  "Whom do you mean? Mrs. Van Rhyl? I thought you were an admirer of hers."

  Nap made a grimace. "Where is your native shrewdness? And I neveradmired her skating anyway. It's about on a par with Mrs. Damer'sdancing. In the name of charity, don't ask that woman to come and help usdance again. I'm not equal to her. It's yoking an elephant to a zebra."

  "I thought you liked Mrs. Damer," said Lucas.

  Nap grimaced again. "She's all right in the hunting-field. Leave her inher own sphere and I can appreciate her."

  "Do you think you are capable of appreciating any woman?" asked Lucasunexpectedly.

  Nap threw him a single fiery glance that was like a sword-thrust. Hisslight figure stiffened to arrogance. But his answer, when it came,was peculiarly soft and deliberate--it was also absolutely andimperiously final.

  "I guess so."

  Lucas said no more, but he did not look wholly satisfied. There weretimes in his dealings with Nap when even his tolerance would carry himno further.

  They spent a considerable time on the terrace in front of the house. Itwas a sheltered spot, and the sunshine that day was generous.

  "This place is doing you good," Nap remarked presently. "You areconsiderably stronger than you were."

  "I believe I am," Lucas answered. "I sleep better."

  He had just seated himself on a stone bench that overlooked the lake.His eyes followed the darting figures of the skaters with a certainintentness.

  Nap leaned upon the balustrade and watched him. "Why don't you see Capperagain?" he asked suddenly.

  The millionaire's gaze gradually lost its intentness and grew remote. "Iam afraid he is on the wrong side of the Atlantic," he said.

  "You can cable to him."

  "Yes, I know." Slowly Lucas raised his eyes to his brother's face. "I canhave him over to tell me what he told me before--that I haven't therecuperative strength essential to make his double operation a success."

  "He may tell you something different this time." Nap spoke insi
stently,with the energy of one not accustomed to accept defeat.

  Lucas was silent.

  "Say, Lucas"--there was more than insistence in his tone this time; itheld compulsion--"you aren't faint-hearted?"

  The blue eyes began to smile. "I think not, Boney. But I've got to hangon for the present--till you and the boy are married. P'r'aps then--I'lltake the risk."

  Nap looked supercilious. "And if it is not my intention to marry?"

  "You must marry, my dear fellow. You'll never be satisfied otherwise."

  "You think marriage the hall-mark of respectability?" Nap sneered openly.

  "I think," Lucas answered quietly, "that for you marriage is theonly end. The love of a good woman would be your salvation. Yes, youmay scoff. But--whether you admit it or not--it is the truth. Andyou know it."

  But Nap had ceased already to scoff; the sneer had gone from his face. Hehad turned his head keenly as one who listens.

  It was nearly a minute later that he spoke, and by that time the hummingof an approaching motor was clearly audible.

  Then, "It may be the truth," he said, in a tone as deliberate as hisbrother's, "and it may not. But--no good woman will ever marry me, Luke.And I shall never marry--anything else."

  He stooped, offering his shoulder for support. "Another guest, I fancy.Shall we go?"

  He added, as they stood a moment before turning, "And if you won't sendfor Capper--I shall."