Part 41 (1/2)
One hipped deftly on to his plate, and as he took up his knife and fork to carve it, a great scuffling sounded without, angry voices being raised in expostulation, and, above all, a breathless, insistent appeal for Mr Carr or Sir Miles My lord laid down the knife and fork and came to his feet
”It appears I am demanded,” he said, and went to the door It was opened for him at once, and he stepped out into the hall to find Mr Beauleigh trying to dodge the younger footht of Carstares he stepped back respectfully Mr Beauleigh, hot, distraught, breathless, fell upon my lord
”Thank God you are here, sir!” he cried
Carstares observed hiid when last they had lad to be at your service, sir,” he bowed ”You have commands for me?”
”We are in terrible trouble,” almostyou, Sir Miles, for none other can help us!”
Carstares' glance grew sharper
”Trouble? Not- But I forget my mannerswe shall talk -rooh thrust a paper into his hands
”Diana went riding this afternoon, and only her horse returnedwith this attached to the pommel! Read it, sir! Read it!”
”Diana!” Carstares strode over to the light, and devoured the contents of the single sheet, with eager eyes
They were not long, and they were very h may haply recall to mind a certain 'Mr Everard,' of Bath, whose Addresses to Miss Beauleigh were cruelly repulsed He regrets having now to take the Matter into his Own Hands, and trusts to further his Acquaintance with Mr Beauleigh at soh shall, He trusts, have become 'Mrs Everard'”
Jack cru out a startling oath
”- insolent cur!”
”Yes, yes, sir! But ill that avail ht to you, for my sister is convinced you know this Everard, and can tell me where to seek them!”
Carstares clapped a hand on his shoulder
”Never fear, Mr Beauleigh! I pledge you ht!”
”You knohere he has taken her? You do? You are sure?”
”Back to his earth, I'll layit wide and shot clear, crisp directions at the footman ”See to it that my mare is saddled in ten minutes and Blue Devil harnessed to your o!
And send Salter toonly to inform my lord that Salter was not in
Carstares reiven Ji, and crushed out another oath He sprang up the stairs, Mr Beauleigh following breathlessly
In his roo with his boots, he put a few questions
Mr Beauleigh related the whole tale, dwelling mournfully on the excellent references for Harper he had received froh Grandison
Jack hauled at his second boot
”Tracy hi his spurs
”Pray, Mr Carr, who is this scoundrel? Is it true that you know hiarde-robe ”damn the fellohere has he put my cloak?” This to the absent Jim, and not the Duke
”Andover! Notsurely not the Duke?” cried Mr Beauleigh
”I know of none other At last!”
He eed and tossed a heavy, many-caped coat on to the bed
”Now, sir, your attention for oneon his sword as he spoke, and not looking at the other h off to Andover Court, seven miles beyond Wyncham, to the south-west Your horse, I take it, is not fresh”(he knew Mr
Beauleigh's horse) ”I have ordered the curricle for you I will ride on at once by short cuts, for there is not a moment to be lost-”
”The Duke of Andover!” interrupted Mr Beauleigh ”The Duke of Andover! Why, do you think he purposes to h
”Ay! As he h winced
”Sir! Pray why should you say so?”
”I perceive you do not know his Grace Perchance you have heard of Devil Belmanoir?”
Then the little man paled
”Good God, Mr Carr, 'tis not he?”
Carstares caught up his hat and whip
”Ay, Mr Beauleigh, 'tis indeed he Now perhaps you appreciate the necessity for haste?”