"Egypt! my Cleopatra! I ain't no flatt'rer,
But dis is true,
(I'm a-goin' to tell her)
Egypt! if you don't want me. . . .
In a trice Lady Eva had found a more suitable record, and after a
momentary pause the instrument struck up "The Darkie Cake Walk," as
played by the New York Municipal Band, at Manhattan Beach, Long Island,
U.S.A.
"May I have the honour?" asked Cunningham, hat in hand, with a low bow.
Lady Eva inclined coldly, and took off her wraps. The man was certainly
polite. He led her as though she were a princess, and any misgivings
were soon at rest.
It was a quaint scene. It is doubtful if Betelgeuse had ever looked down
upon a quainter. The firs formed a sombre background. The moon
illuminated the green sward in front, and on it a highwayman and a lady
motorist stepped to a catching dance tune, emanating from a gramophone
on a Panhard motor, controlled by a peer of the realm. The light of an
acetylene lamp shone like a gigantic foot-light illuminating the front
of the green stage.
The floor was not an ideal one, though cattle had cropped it close and
the winds had swept it dry, but the pair were accomplished dancers.
Thrice had they paced the length of the floor. Now they turned again,
hand in hand, with heads thrown back, and uplifted feet. There was the
unmistakable sound of an approaching car. Cunningham must have heard it,
but recklessly he continued the dance.
[Illustration: "THERE WAS THE UNMISTAKABLE SOUND OF AN APPROACHING CAR."
(_p. 198._)]
With a toot it hove into sight, and Lord Tadcaster turned his own horn
into a prolonged howl, signifying unimaginable trouble. This, and the
unusual scene at the side, brought up the oncoming car to a smart halt.
They backed abreast of the Panhard.
"Robbery! Help!" cried the Earl.
The two occupants of the new car hardly heard him. They were lost in
astonishment. As the dancers reached the verge of the road in the full
flare of the light, they were greeted with a round of applause. With a
snap Lord Tadcaster turned off the gramophone.
"Well, I'm jiggered!" said one of the newcomers. "If it ain't little
Hoity Toity!"
The peer had jumped from the Panhard. "Help me to secure this
highwayman," he said, pointing to Cunningham. "He has robbed me."
The man who had just spoken also got down, but his companion remained on
the car, stolidly surveying the scene.
"Come along," said the peer to his recruit. "I think we can manage
him between us."
"Stow it, old man," said the motorist. "You collar the highwayman, and
I'll look after the lady."
He brushed past the Earl, and, with proffered arm, smirked, "May I have
the next dance, Miss?"
Lady Eva drew back. The man came still nearer. Instinctively she touched
Cunningham's arm for protection.
"Stand back, sir!" he commanded.
"Who the juggins are you?" sneered the man. "This old buffer says you're
a highwayman, but you seem to think you're a bloomin' bobby. You git,
and let me have my partner for the high-kick lancers."
"If you come one step nearer I'll thrash you," said Cunningham.
The man needed no further encouragement. He even dared to touch the
lady's arm. A second later he measured his length on the turf.
His friend tumbled from his seat with anxious chivalry.
"'Ere, you leave my pal alone," he said, rolling up to Cunningham.
"Shut up, Sammy," said the other, rising slowly to his feet. "Now, look
you here, Mr. Highwayman," he continued vindictively. "You've had your
score, now I'll have mine. Either this lady has a hop with me to my own
time and tune, and gives me a kiss at the end, or----"
"Or what?"
"Or I ride on to Harrogate, and give the police information of highway
robbery."
"There's your car," said Cunningham. "Ride on."
"He's not likely to wait for the arrival of the police," said the Earl
ruefully, yet anxious for the departure of these impossible helpers.
"I shall be back with a bobby in twenty minutes," the man rejoined, "and
we'll telephone to every town in the district so that he can't escape.
I'm not in fightin' form myself to-night, so I'd rather do it in proper
legal style. I'll bring a solicitor if I can find one. Now, young
feller," he continued, "you'd better consider well. It'll be a twelve
months' touch for you for robbery and six for 'sault and battery. Are
you going to let your friend sacrifice himself on the altar of nonsense,
Miss? I think our steps 'ud soot each other amazing."
Cunningham advanced on him threateningly. "If you dare to speak another
word to the lady you'll find yourself on the ground again," he said.
The man retreated before him, and Sammy fled. "Right 'o," said the
former. "You've had your choice. It's plank and skilly for you now. Get
up, Sammy." He bundled his friend into his seat, himself followed, let
in the clutch, and they disappeared.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," said the girl.
"Please don't worry about it," replied Cunningham. "The whole thing is
the result of my own folly. It serves me jolly well right if I suffer
for it."
"Hadn't you better try to escape now?" she asked, only remembering his
protection of her.
Cunningham shook his head. "I think not," he replied. "It's probably all
a ruse on his part to get me away. Then he might return and--and annoy
you."
Lady Eva was silent.
"By George, sir," said the Earl, "I like your spirit. What the deuce do
you want with that peppercorn and shoe? Give me 'em back and I'll say no
more about it all."
Cunningham smiled a little sadly. "I'm afraid I can't. But you shall
have them on the morning of the 29th without fail. Perhaps you'll
believe me now." Then, after a pause, he added: "I'll make a dash for it
if they aren't back in a quarter of an hour. In that case, I shall
conclude that they really have gone to give the alarm."
The minutes passed. Lady Eva bit her lips in thought. Cunningham looked
alternately from her to Betelgeuse and the moon. The peer stared
stolidly into space.
"Look here," said Cunningham suddenly. "Aren't we wasting time? Why wait
for assistance? I think I can put on a new tyre, if you will allow me.
Where are your spare tubes and covers, and your jack?"
His lordship accepted the offer with alacrity, and the two men were soon
busy round the wheel.
Cunningham ceased work for a moment to take Lady Eva her furs, and
assist her into them. She sat down on a tree stump, holding the
remaining lamp, and turning its light on the work.
She did this mechanically. All the while she was thinking gravely.
Suddenly a smile passed over her face, and she nodded approvingly.
The men were so busy that they did not pause at the sound of the
returning car. Sammy's friend was better than his word. They had barely
been gone fifteen minutes.
"That's the highwayman--that young feller. Arrest him for robbery!"
shouted the motorist, as he brought his car to a standstill, and a
policeman sprang down.
"Is that the charge, sir?" said the policeman to Lord Tadcaster.
What the Earl would have replied is uncertain, for before he could
answer Lady Eva had intervened.
"Robbery! What in the world do you mean?" she cried, standing up, and
flashing the light on the policeman.
"That gentleman has taken me off my beat to arrest a man for highway
robbery."
"That gentleman is mistaken," replied the girl. "We've had a breakdown.
Surely that is the person who promised to send assistance from
Harrogate. We want a repairer, not a policeman."
"Don't you believe her!" cried the motorist. "Ask the old 'un."
"Is that so, sir?" inquired the officer.
"You have heard my daughter," replied the Earl, astonished but loyal.
"Of course it is so."
The motorist's mouth opened, but no words came forth. He was absolutely
speechless at this change of front.
"Anyway, there's an assault an' battery," said his friend hopefully. "'E
knocked 'im down," pointing to the protagonists of the drama.
"For insulting a lady, I think," said Cunningham.
"Gor!" snorted the driver, recovering his speech. "Sold again, Sammy!"
And with a frightful hoot they passed into the night.
"Well, I'm blowed!" exclaimed the policeman, with intense disgust. "And
'ere I am, miles off my beat."
"My friends won't be long before they are ready to start again,
officer," said Cunningham, "and they'll no doubt give you a lift to
Harrogate. In the meantime you might relieve the lady of the trouble of
directing the light. Thank you," he whispered to Lady Eva, as he took
the lamp from her. Her eyes met his and smiled.
The new tyre was at last adjusted. The Earl, Lady Eva, and the policeman
got on board and sped away, Cunningham accompanying them on his
motor-cycle.
In the outskirts of Harrogate the policeman resumed his interrupted
beat, the richer by an unusual experience and a sovereign.
At the town itself Cunningham said his adieus.
"A thousand thanks for your generosity, my lord," he added. "You will
not find it misplaced," and with a low bow to Lady Eva he took the road
to the right.
The Earl watched him go regretfully, for after all he had the horseshoe
and peppercorn. What Lady Eva's feelings were she could not have stated
precisely.
The Earl of Tadcaster and his daughter arrived at their hotel in time to
stop a relief expedition, organised by the anxious Achille; and under
his care they resumed their journey the next day.
On the evening of the 28th, Captain Prescott Cunningham renewed his
subscription to the Burglars' Club; and at 9 a.m. on the 29th there was
delivered at Claridge's Hotel a registered packet containing a
peppercorn and a golden horseshoe, which the eighteenth Baron Tadcaster
presented to his sovereign that afternoon at Buckingham Palace.
Later on in the day a couple of new tyres, "With Mr. Duval's compliments
and apologies," also reached the peer.
Here the story ends--for the present. This happened last March.
Cunningham now attends every possible dance, dinner, and reception,
hoping that some day Lady Eva and he may meet again; and as for Lady
Eva, does she not dream daily of witching moonlight, a greensward dance,
and a brave and gallant partner?