answer, for just then Lord Carboro' came up.
"Let me take you down to have a jelly, Miss Dean," he said.
Cora looked up at him and was about to refuse; but there was such aquiet, respectful look in the old man's eyes that she took his arm.
"I'll come and fetch you afterwards, Mrs Dean," he said and theycrossed the room.
"There," said Mrs Dean. "Now I'm a happy woman. It might be afterall. Countess--not a Shakespeare countess or duchess for six nightsonly, as it says in the bills, but altogether. Hah, I paid for thisparty, and I don't grudge the money, and Denville's made himself afriend. I was going to say to my gal: there's that Sir Matthew Braymaking up to old Lady Drelincourt, and that Sir Harry Payne to MrsBurnett, and Major Rockley to Claire Denville, and young Linnell asjealous as can be. And now, to top off with and finish the scene, LordCarboro' comes and takes off my Cora. Well, we're in society at last."
"Look here, old woman, this bracelet case is banging against my leghorribly, and if I have two things old Drelincourt will hesitate betweenthem and take neither. If I've only one she may take it. I think I canget her alone now. Here, slip this into your pocket."
"Oh, but Jo-si-ah, I can't."
"Yes, you can, stupid; you've got lots of room. Here, I want to clearmy expenses to-night."
"Why, you have, Jo-si-ah."
"Pooh! That's nothing. Here, catch hold."
He slipped the case into his wife's hand, and she took it and passed itunder a fold of her satin dress.
Barclay strolled away to try and get hold of Lady Drelincourt, and justthen Denville came up.
"My dear Mrs Barclay," he said, "you have been sitting all alone solong, and I could not get to you, and poor Claire is so busy."
"Oh, don't you mind me, Mr Denville. I'm nobody."
"But you must be faint."
"Well, since you put it like that, Mr Denville, I really have got sucha dreadful feeling of sinking inside me that if it was only a sangwidgeand a glass of sherry, I'd say bless you."
"Come then, my dear madam," said Denville. "This way."
She rose and took the offered arm, and Lord Carboro' smiled as theflorid little woman went by him. Then he drew back by a curtain, andbegan taking snuff and watching Claire, as she now stood still, and hesaw her meet Linnell's eyes just as Rockley, who had been watching hisopportunity, was going up to her.
Linnell looked at her with eyes that said, "May I come?" and he readthat long, calm, trustful gaze to say "Yes."
"Very nicely done. In a sweet maidenly way," said Lord Carboro'. "Howcleverly a woman can do that sort of thing, making one man a shieldagainst another. By George! she is a queen--a woman of whom a man mightbe proud."
Rockley went scowling back, and threw himself on the seat where MrsBarclay had been; and from where he stood Lord Carboro' looked at himsneeringly.
"Old, worn out, withered as I am, handsome Rockley, if Claire Denvillebecame my wife, I shouldn't care a snap for you. Ugh! why, I must bestanding just where old Teigne was smothered. How horrible! Pish, whatmatters! Why should I care, when her dear sister is laughing andshowing her false teeth there just where the foot of the bedstead usedto be. Sweet girlish creature; she's ogling that fat dragoon, andshe'll marry him if she can."
He took another pinch of snuff.
"Hallo!" he muttered, "Payne after that little strawberry cream of awoman. We shall have a scandal there, as sure as fate, and--good girl,she sees through her and cuts the enemy out. Claire, my dear, you areindeed a little queen among women. I've never given you half the credityou deserve, and--damme!--never!--yes--no--yes!--the scoundrel! Well,that comes of reckless play. Curse it all, there must not be such ascandal as this. Where's Denville?"
He looked round, but the Master of the Ceremonies had not returned withMrs Barclay.
Everybody was fully engaged, laughing, flirting, or card-playing.Assignations were being made; money was changing hands, and the candleswere burning down and guttering at the sides, as Lord Carboro'exclaimed:
"Hang it! I did not think he could stoop to be such a scoundrel asthat!"
Volume Two, Chapter XIII.
MAJOR ROCKLEY'S MISTAKE.
"Now, Barclay, you are a wicked flatterer," said Lady Drelincourt, asshe sat out in the balcony, with the money-lender leaning over her afterleading her there and placing a chair.
"I shall risk being rude in my rough way," said Barclay in a low voice,"and repeat my words. I said those lustrous diamonds would look perfecton your ladyship's beautiful throat."
"Now, you don't mean it, Barclay. I am not so young as I was, and mythroat is not beautiful now."
"There, I'm a plain man," said Barclay; "I've no time for fine sayingsand polished phrases, and what I say is this: I know your ladyship mustbe forty."
"Yes, Barclay, I am," said Lady Drelincourt, with a sigh.
"I'm fifty-five," he said, "and what I say is, how a woman with a skinlike yours can utter such deprecatory sentiments is a puzzle. Why, halfthe women here would be proud of such a skin. Look how they paint.Pah!"
"They do, Barclay; they do. Are the diamonds of good water?"
"Look," he said, holding them before him.
"No, no; some one in the room will see."
"I'll take care of that, my lady. Look at them. I daren't tell youwhom they once belonged to, but they came to me through accidents at thegaming-table. They are perfect in match and size. Lady Drelincourt,you would not be doing yourself justice if you did not buy them. I wishI dare clasp them on."
"No, no; not now. How much did you say?"
"I am giving them away at four hundred guineas, Lady Drelincourt."
"Oh, but that's a terrible price, Barclay!"
"They will be worth more in a year or two, Lady Drelincourt."
"Oh, but I could not spare so much money."
"Pooh! what of that! If your ladyship likes the diamonds--"
"I do like them, Barclay."
"I should be happy to give your ladyship what credit you require."
"Really, this is very naughty of me, Barclay; it is, indeed, but Isuppose I must have them. There, slip them into my hand. You can sendme the case to-morrow."
"I will, my lady. You'll never regret the purchase, and I am delightedthat they will be worn by the queen of Saltinville society."
"Go away, flatterer, and tell Sir Matthew Bray to bring me my salts. Ileft them on the chimney-piece."
"I fly," said Barclay; and he went through the rooms to perform hiscommission, Sir Matthew hurrying to get to her ladyship's side, whileBarclay turned to meet his wife who was just returning with their host.
"Hallo!"
"Oh, I am so much better now, Jo-si-ah. I was so faint."
"Ah, Denville, I want a word with you," said Lord Carboro', coming upbox in hand.
"I say, old lady," whispered Barclay, "got that bracelet safe?"
"Oh, yes, that's all right; but you can't have it."
"Why not?"
"Because it's right down at the very bottom of my pocket, where there'sno getting at it at all. But you don't want it now?"
"No. I've sold the diamond necklace."
"No!"
"I have, to that old hag, Drelincourt."
"Did she pay you?"
"No; but we've got deeds worth four times as much, and I shall chargeher interest until she pays."
"Then you've had a splendid night, Jo-si-ah."
"Glorious!" he said, rubbing his hands.
"Then I want a rubber of whist, and I shall see if I can't win a fewguineas myself."
"All right. I'll get you to a table."
"Denville, old fellow," said Lord Carboro', chatting with his host andtaking snuff from the box given by the Prince, "I've a bad habit ofseeing everything that goes on around me."
"Your lordship is most observant."
"I'm sorry to say I am; and whether we become relatives or not,Denville, I take an interest in you and your belongings."
> The Master of the Ceremonies looked up in alarm.
"Take a bit of good advice, Denville."
"My lord!"
"And keep a tighter rein over your daughter."
"Your lordship's opinions seem to change easily," said Denvillebitterly. "The other day my daughter Claire--"
"Pooh! Absurd, man! Stop. She is perfect. A princess could not
The Master of the Ceremonies Page 47