"Now, Barclay, you are a wicked flatterer," said Lady Drelincourt, as
she sat out in the balcony, with the money-lender leaning over her after
leading 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 perfect
on your ladyship's beautiful throat."
"Now, you don't mean it, Barclay. I am not so young as I was, and my
throat is not beautiful now."
"There, I'm a plain man," said Barclay; "I've no time for fine sayings
and polished phrases, and what I say is this: I know your ladyship must
be 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 skin
like yours can utter such deprecatory sentiments is a puzzle. Why, half
the 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 you
whom they once belonged to, but they came to me through accidents at the
gaming-table. They are perfect in match and size. Lady Drelincourt,
you would not be doing yourself justice if you did not buy them. I wish
I 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 I
suppose I must have them. There, slip them into my hand. You can send
me the case to-morrow."
"I will, my lady. You'll never regret the purchase, and I am delighted
that they will be worn by the queen of Saltinville society."
"Go away, flatterer, and tell Sir Matthew Bray to bring me my salts. I
left them on the chimney-piece."
"I fly," said Barclay; and he went through the rooms to perform his
commission, Sir Matthew hurrying to get to her ladyship's side, while
Barclay 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 up
box 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's
no 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 charge
her 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 few
guineas myself."
"All right. I'll get you to a table."
"Denville, old fellow," said Lord Carboro', chatting with his host and
taking snuff from the box given by the Prince, "I've a bad habit of
seeing 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 Denville
bitterly. "The other day my daughter Claire--"
"Pooh! Absurd, man! Stop. She is perfect. A princess could not have
been 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. I
am your friend. You have had scandal enough in your family; you must
have 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. Constant
dropping 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 in
hand, 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 some
jewellery?"
"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 an
offering--a string of pearls--to your daughter; and, like the sweet true
lady 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, to
hold 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 the
carpet."
"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 most
likely 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 jewels
back. 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 he
will 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 his
painful 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 could
he let it go forth that there had been another diamond robbery from his
house. It was impossible.
As he hesitated he caught sight of Lord Carboro' watching him. Barclay
too was there, evidently about to speak to him, and he felt that he
must. Better to offend Major Rockley than have another scandal.
He mingled among his guests with a word here and there, sending some
downstairs, and interfering in a _tete-a-tete_ between May and Sir Harry
Payne, who had at last won a promise from the giddy little creature to
whom he was paying court. He then went up to Rockley, snuff-box in
hand, and addressed him as he was leaning against the chimney-piece.
"I'm afraid our little reunion has no charms for you, Major Rockley," he
said.
"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 go
afterwards. A little mistake, Major Rockley. You'll pardon me; a
little mistake."
His heart sank as he spoke, and he trembled almost guiltily at the task
he 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 your
snuff-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 duty
to 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 picked
up was not a snuff-box, but contained jewels belonging to one of my
guests."
"I did not know your guests carried their jewels in cases, Mr
Denville," said the Major, with a forced laugh. "They seem to be
wearing them."
"It is so easy to make a mistake, Major Rockley," continued the MC, on
finding 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 been
seen," said Denville, angrily now.
"Act? Seen? Good heavens, sir! Do you take me for a thief?" said
Rockley, in a hoarse whisper. "Do you think--why--confound! I am
astounded!"
He had been angrily thrusting a hand into first one and then another
pocket, bringing out a snuff-box, then a handkerchief, and lastly the
little morocco case.
"That must be it, Major Rockley," said the MC coldly; and their eyes met
with a curiously long stare.
"As you say, Mr Denville, mistakes are so easily made. I am in your
debt for this--I shall never forget it. You will excuse me now, I am
sure. The little matter has agitated me more than I should care to
own."
The MC bowed.
"Seen, you said, I think? Was it you who saw me pick up that case--by
accident?"
"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 private
by us both."
Major Rockley bowed and turned to gaze round the room, to see if he
could select Denville's informant; but there was no one whom he felt
ready to blame but Richard Linnell--Barclay he knew it could not be--or
was it that handsome Cora Dean?
He turned again close by the door, and tried to catch Claire Denville's
eyes; but she was talking gravely to Linnell, so, half bowing to
Denville, he said quietly:
"Thank you for excusing me. Of course, I rely upon the discretion of
yourself 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, glancing
up at the well-lit balcony and drawing-room, from which he turned with
an involuntary shudder. "Curse the old idiot, but I'll serve him out
for this presently. I wonder whether the old dancing-master cares for
his girl and boy? Well," he added, with a peculiar smile, "we shall
soon see."
Volume Two, Chapter XIV.