havebeen a more charming hostess. I did not mean her. Look there!"
"Mrs Burnett with Sir Harry Payne?"
"Yes; the fellow's a blackguard. The little woman married a fool--"
"My lord!"
"Who neglects her for drink and play. Don't be offended, Denville. Iam your friend. You have had scandal enough in your family; you musthave no more."
Denville drew a long breath.
"Your lordship is right; but you must not misunderstand my dear child."
"Pretty, sweet, young, and most impressionable, Denville. Constantdropping will wear a stone. Don't let the water drop on it any more."
"My lord, you may trust me."
"Stop, Denville. Another thing in confidence. You must get it back,treating it all as an error."
"My lord, you alarm me. Get _it_ back?"
"I can't help it, Denville. Do you know that sometimes dashing fellows,ruined by play, have gone on the road mounted and masked, and, pistol inhand, have robbed?"
"Yes, my lord. But we have no highwaymen here."
"Don't be too sure. Did you know that Barclay, at my wish, brought somejewellery?"
"Yes, but not at my wish, my lord! I felt aggrieved--insulted."
"Forgive him and me. It was at my request. I wanted to make anoffering--a string of pearls--to your daughter; and, like the sweet truelady she is, she has refused to accept them."
Denville flushed and turned pale as he glanced proudly at his child,where she stood talking to Colonel Mellersh.
"I saw Barclay give his wife a case with a diamond bracelet in it, tohold while he went to old Drelincourt."
"Yes, my lord. What of that?"
"Mrs Barclay did not put it in her pocket, but let it slip down on thecarpet."
"Where was she seated, my lord?"
"Never mind; the diamond bracelet was found."
"Thank goodness!" gasped Denville.
"By Major Rockley."
"Who gave it back?"
"No; who has pocketed it, and will keep it; while Barclay will mostlikely credit you."
"Impossible, my lord!"
"Possible, Denville. I tell you there must be no more robberies here.Hang it, man, stand up."
"A sudden giddiness, my lord. I am better now. I will get the jewelsback. But, one moment, my lord, are you really quite sure?"
"I am certain."
"But Major Rockley may mean--"
"Hush, Denville. What do you know of handsome Rockley? Do you think hewill give the jewels back if he can get them away? Act; at once."
"Suppose he is wrong," said Denville to himself, as he went off on hispainful task. "What an insult to an officer--the Prince's friend."
"I dare not do it," he said after a pause. "It must be some mistake.Such an act would be the work of a common thief. He must be wrong."
He shrank from his task, but he felt that it must be done, for how couldhe let it go forth that there had been another diamond robbery from hishouse. It was impossible.
As he hesitated he caught sight of Lord Carboro' watching him. Barclaytoo was there, evidently about to speak to him, and he felt that hemust. Better to offend Major Rockley than have another scandal.
He mingled among his guests with a word here and there, sending somedownstairs, and interfering in a _tete-a-tete_ between May and Sir HarryPayne, who had at last won a promise from the giddy little creature towhom he was paying court. He then went up to Rockley, snuff-box inhand, and addressed him as he was leaning against the chimney-piece.
"I'm afraid our little reunion has no charms for you, Major Rockley," hesaid.
"On the contrary, my dear Denville, I am delighted."
"But you have had no refreshment. Pray come down."
"Without a lady?"
"Yes, without a lady. Or, no, I will speak now, and you can goafterwards. A little mistake, Major Rockley. You'll pardon me; alittle mistake."
His heart sank as he spoke, and he trembled almost guiltily at the taskhe had in hand.
The Major's dark eyes flashed as he scowled at him.
"If you mean, sir, that by addressing--"
"No, no, Major Rockley; a little mistake. You thought you dropped yoursnuff-box."
"I thought I dropped my snuff-box, sir? Are you mad?"
"You'll pardon me, Major Rockley, no. You made a mistake; it is my dutyto see the matter right. You imagined that you dropped your snuff-box,and you picked it up, when you were seated a little while ago."
"Well, sir?"
If Lord Carboro' had made a mistake, how dare he meet that man again?
"You do not seem to understand me, Major Rockley. The case you pickedup was not a snuff-box, but contained jewels belonging to one of myguests."
"I did not know your guests carried their jewels in cases, MrDenville," said the Major, with a forced laugh. "They seem to bewearing them."
"It is so easy to make a mistake, Major Rockley," continued the MC, onfinding that it was more simple to attack than he had expected.
"I never make mistakes, sir," said the Major haughtily.
"I should not have spoken to you like this, sir, if the act had not beenseen," said Denville, angrily now.
"Act? Seen? Good heavens, sir! Do you take me for a thief?" saidRockley, in a hoarse whisper. "Do you think--why--confound! I amastounded!"
He had been angrily thrusting a hand into first one and then anotherpocket, bringing out a snuff-box, then a handkerchief, and lastly thelittle morocco case.
"That must be it, Major Rockley," said the MC coldly; and their eyes metwith a curiously long stare.
"As you say, Mr Denville, mistakes are so easily made. I am in yourdebt for this--I shall never forget it. You will excuse me now, I amsure. The little matter has agitated me more than I should care toown."
The MC bowed.
"Seen, you said, I think? Was it you who saw me pick up that case--byaccident?"
"No, sir."
"Would you oblige me with the name of the person?"
"It is not necessary," said Denville. "I am master of the ceremonies,sir, of my own house. This affair, I may tell you, will be kept privateby us both."
Major Rockley bowed and turned to gaze round the room, to see if hecould select Denville's informant; but there was no one whom he feltready to blame but Richard Linnell--Barclay he knew it could not be--orwas it that handsome Cora Dean?
He turned again close by the door, and tried to catch Claire Denville'seyes; but she was talking gravely to Linnell, so, half bowing toDenville, he said quietly:
"Thank you for excusing me. Of course, I rely upon the discretion ofyourself and friend. Adieu."
"_Adieu_," and he left with curses and deadly threats in his breast.
"Had man ever such luck!" he hissed, as he strode by the house, glancingup at the well-lit balcony and drawing-room, from which he turned withan involuntary shudder. "Curse the old idiot, but I'll serve him outfor this presently. I wonder whether the old dancing-master cares forhis girl and boy? Well," he added, with a peculiar smile, "we shallsoon see."
Volume Two, Chapter XIV.
AT THE CARD-TABLE.
"Friends?" Richard Linnell was saying, as he stood looking earnestly atClaire. "Nothing more?"
"No," she said, in a low, sad voice; "always, come what may, yourgrateful friend."
She turned to her sister, who was watching her, and met her with:
"Claire dear, you're going mad. That man hasn't a penny."
"Well?" said Claire gravely. "And you are encouraging him."
"As you are encouraging Sir Harry Payne? No, May; you are mistaken."
"I declare if you are going to insult me I will not stay," cried May,turning scarlet. "It is disgraceful. It is cruel. If I could onlyfind Frank--"
Just then a loud burst of angry voices came from one of the card-tables.It was eleven o'clock; there had been refreshments; the room was veryhot, and the play, for ladies, high; and now the voice of t
he Master ofthe Ceremonies was heard in protest.
"Ladies--ladies--I beg--I must request--"
"Order my carriage directly, Sir Matthew. It serves me right for comingto such a place," cried Lady Drelincourt.
"Yes; you had no business here," cried Mrs Barclay.
"And mixing with such low people," cried Lady Drelincourt.
"Low people? Better be low than not honest."
"Oh! oh!--Denville, are you going to allow this insult to my face--fromsuch a woman as that?" cried Lady Drelincourt.
"Hush,
The Master of the Ceremonies Page 48