We had splendid sport down at Fernhurst. The birds were very strong, and there were several excellent shots. But Lady Richard was, of course, the centre of all the attractions. Every man Jack among the males was absolutely her slave, lock, stock and barrel! By Jove! I dont think in all my diplomatic career Ive ever seen a woman play them off one against the other with such finesse. Meldrum seems to have got into society wonderfully well of late. The young Grand-Duke Stanislas was there, and he made desperate love to the pretty widow. Indeed, so marked were their flirtations, that several of the feminine contingent declared themselves scandalised, and left. But, of course, the real truth was that they knew themselves to be entirely out of the running. One thing, however, struck me as curious very curious: the hostess, a rather matronly bourgeoise person, seemed to throw the pair into one anothers society as much as possible. At any rate, the extravagant flirtation nearly resulted in an open scandal. To my mind, Dudley, shes playing a decidedly dangerous game. Forgive me for saying so, if shes more to you than a jolly acquaintance; but you know the proverb about the pitcher going too often to the well.
Angling after a Grand-Duke sounds bold, observed Benthall, attacking his cutlet. I always thought, Dudley, old chap, that she had set her mind on becoming mistress of Wroxeter.
Oh, I know, exclaimed their host impatiently, although trying to conceal his annoyance, a lot of rot has been talked! Im quite well aware of what you fellows mean. But I assure you that Im a confirmed bachelor just as confirmed as you, colonel and, hang it! if report speaks correctly, youre one of the worst of the woman-haters in the whole of the Albany.
Ive never had any necessity to marry, laughed the old officer, his cheeks flushing with good humour.
Ive piloted some ripping ball-skirts and tailor-made gowns through half the courts of Europe, but Im still heart-whole.
A fine record, observed Harry Benthall with his mouth full. At that breakfast-table there was no ceremony, and words were certainly not minced.
Well, every one seems to be linking my name with Claudia Nevills, Dudley remarked, after commencing his breakfast, I really cant see why.
But I can, declared the colonel bluntly. Youre a fool if youll forgive me for saying so.
Why?
A fool for giving a second thought to a woman of her stamp, he answered. Good heavens! if you knew half the tales about her, youd cut her dead. I wonder why the Meldrums invited her? Suppose they couldnt help it or something.
What tales? asked Dudley, glancing inquiringly from one man to the other.
No. Im not going to besmirch any womans character, my dear fellow, replied the elder man. Only, take my advice and have nothing more to do with her thats all. Shes no good to you, or indeed to any honest man.
Some foul scandal about her, I suppose, cried Chisholm, his brow darkening for an instant. As a matter of fact, he knew the scandal quite well. It was the common talk in every club in town. But he intended to champion her, even though he had escaped from her net. Why dont you tell me?
It is unnecessary utterly unnecessary, the colonel answered, making as if breakfast were more important than gossip.
A pretty woman, smart and popular as she is, always gets talked about, and her enemies are sure to invent some cruel story or other. Half the women in London are envious of Claudia Nevill, hence all these absurd and scandalous tales, Chisholm declared.
Ah! laughed the colonel, as I said, youre gone on her, like the others, Dudley. You are old friends, every one knows. Its a pity that shes so reckless.
In what manner has she been reckless?
Well, if you had been down at Fernhurst and seen her with the young Grand-Duke, you wouldnt defend her actions as you are now doing well, by Jove! you couldnt. Im a man of the world, you know, but I must say that the flirtation was a regular blizzard.
And is every woman who glances prettily at a man from behind her fan, or chats to a fellow in a conservatory, to be condemned? asked his host. If so, then society has suddenly become intensely puritanical. Remember that the licence not allowed to an unmarried girl may justifiably be employed by a widow.
Widow! laughed Murray-Kerr adjusting his monocle. My dear boy, Im perfectly with you; but then the fair Claudia is one in ten millions. Shes more like a girl of eighteen, in face, figure, and the choice of lovers, than the usual prim and stale relict with whom we are all more or less familiar.
Just because shes popular, all this confounded gossip buzzes here, there, and everywhere. My name is coupled with hers, and all kinds of ridiculous stories have been started about us. I know, for too many of them have come to my ears.
Then if you know, Dudley, why dont you take my advice and cut her? asked the old officer, fixing his host with his keen eyes.
Chapter Six.
In which the Colonel grows Mysterious
Chisholm was silent. The two men exchanged glances. Since they were his best and most confidential friends, he could not be offended in the least at what they had said, especially as he knew quite well that they had spoken plain, hard facts.
Well, he said at last, in a metallic tone of voice, the truth is, we have parted.
Then I cordially congratulate you, my dear fellow, declared the red-faced old colonel bluntly. Forgive me, but youve been a fool over her, an absolute fool, and couldnt see that she was deceiving you on every hand. Men had begun to sneer and laugh at you behind your back and, by Jove! youve had a narrow escape of making a complete ass of yourself.
I know. Im well aware of it, his host replied in a low tone. But between ourselves, its all over.
Why between ourselves? inquired Benthall. The world should, I think, know, for your own sake? Pourquoi non?
No. I intend to keep it a secret for her sake. Both men were silent. The conversation had, indeed, been a strange one to take place between a host and his guests. But both men saw that although Claudia and her lover had parted, there still lingered in Dudley Chisholms heart tender thoughts of that pretty, callous woman who was one of the leaders of smart society in London.
Very well, said Murray-Kerr at length, after a brief period of silence. If you wish us to say nothing, we can only obey. But, nevertheless, my dear old chap, I, for one, congratulate you most heartily upon your resolution. A man in your shoes cant afford to risk his reputation any longer. Forgive me for speaking as I have done, wont you?
Certainly, my dear fellow, he answered with a bitter smile. Youve both spoken as friends, and Ive told you the plain truth, so what more need be said?
Nothing, said the colonel. Stick to your resolution, and let Claudia Nevill proceed at her own sweet will. Shell marry some foreign notability or other, I expect, now that shes in search of big game. Then youll be entirely free of her.
Dudley laughed again, and soon afterwards, much to his relief, the conversation drifted into an easier channel. Her letter, however, remained in his pocket unopened. What words of mad despair, he wondered, did it contain?
He sat finishing his breakfast and chatting about various subjects. But his thoughts were of her always of her.
Dudley laughed again, and soon afterwards, much to his relief, the conversation drifted into an easier channel. Her letter, however, remained in his pocket unopened. What words of mad despair, he wondered, did it contain?
He sat finishing his breakfast and chatting about various subjects. But his thoughts were of her always of her.
When they rose, his two guests went out to see after their guns, while he, remaining behind upon some pretext, tore open the letter.
It was brief, and had evidently been penned in one of those moments of remorse which must come sooner or later to such a woman.
You are cruel to leave me like this, she wrote. Surely, if you really loved me, you would not care what the world might say. I have been foolish, I know, but am now penitent. I see the folly of it all the folly of not keeping my secret and playing the hypocrite like other women. Surely love is not forbidden between us because you happen to hold an official position! Return to me, Dudley for I love you!
He sighed, then, crushing the letter in his hand, he flung it into the fire, murmuring:
No. Shes played me false false!
He recollected what the colonel had said in regard to the Grand-Duke Stanislas, and saw with chagrin that the world was pitying him.
Before the blazing logs he stood, watching the leaping flames consume the letter. When the last spark had died from the black crackling tinder, he sighed again, and reluctantly went out to join his guests.
The morning was dull and grey. As they trudged on past the site of the old Roman cemetery, down through Altringham Wood, across the wide stretch of moorland known as Uckington Heath, at last crossing the old highway of Watling Street and entering the Dean Copse, the sportsmen agreed that October might have behaved in a handsomer fashion. The fierce north-east wind that had swept over the Welsh hills had died away the evening before in a tumbled sea of fiery crimson and dense jagged drift of sulphurous blue. For days and days it had torn and shaken the great elms in Wroxeter Park, until it had stripped them of the last vestige of their autumn foliage, and now in the calm morning the leaves in park and copse were lying in a deep, moist carpet of shimmering gold. Nothing but the oaks had been able to withstand the fury of the blast; these still bore their leafy flags bravely aloft, thousands and thousands of their family flying proofs of staunchness on the flanks of many a noble hill. On the grass by the lane-side the dew was held in uncomfortable abundance, and a few belated blackberries showed sodden in the hedgerows. On entering the copse the shooters trudged down the narrow path, which was covered thickly with decaying leaves, and a few moments later both dogs and guns got to work.
During their walk the conversation had for the most part dealt with the condition of the birds. The colonel, keen sportsman that he was, telling of the execution effected by the six guns at Fernhurst; describing the big bags made up at Lord Mortons place in Cumberland, and how scarce the grouse had been in various districts in Scotland.
As Marston, the head-keeper, had predicted, birds were plentiful in the Dean Copse. Although the ground was rather difficult to work, the guests had good reason to praise the Under-Secretarys preserves. As for the colonel, who scarcely ever missed, he was now in his element; the heavier the bag became, the more brightly the old warriors eyes sparkled. So excellent had been the sport, and, in consequence, so quickly had the time passed, that the guests could hardly believe their ears when the interval for lunch was announced. Dudley, who was an excellent shot, and who, on an ordinary occasion, would have entered into the sport with becoming zest, throughout the morning had knocked down the birds in a merely mechanical way, more to please his friends than himself. Secretly he wished himself back at the castle, in the solitude of that old library which he used for his den at such times as he was all by himself at Wroxeter.
I think, sir, we ought to try the Holly Wood now, Marston suggested as soon as they had eaten their sandwiches and drunk their sherry. In accordance with this view, they tramped down into the valley by Upton Magna, and presently came to the spot indicated. For the past two seasons Dudley had been down at Wroxeter but seldom, one of the results being that birds were very plentiful. All three of the shooters were kept busy until nearly three oclock, when, after enjoying a grand days sport, the party turned towards the old inn at Uffington, where the dog-cart was to meet them.
On the way across the brown fields, Benthall, deep in conversation with Marston, was somewhat ahead, and Dudley walked at the colonels side, a smart, well-set-up figure in his drab shooting-clothes.
He was hesitating whether to broach a subject that was puzzling him. Presently, however, unable longer to conceal his curiosity, he turned suddenly to his companion, saying:
You were speaking of Fernhurst at breakfast. Lets see, hasnt Lady Meldrum a daughter?
A daughter? observed the colonel, looking at him. Certainly not. Theres no family.
Thats curious, Dudley said with an affected air of indifference. Somebody said she had a daughter named Muriel.
A daughter named Muriel! the old officer exclaimed. No, she has a girl named Muriel who lives with her a ward, I believe and a confoundedly pretty girl she is, too. She wasnt much en Evidence when I was down there. I have my suspicions that during the house-party she was sent away to the quieter atmosphere surrounding a maiden aunt.
Oh, shes a ward, is she? remarked Chisholm. Whats her name?
Muriel Mortimer.
A ward in Chancery, I suppose?
Im not certain, replied Murray-Kerr hesitatingly. I only saw her once, on the day of my arrival at Fernhurst. She left for Hertfordshire next day. Lady Meldrum, however, seemed devoted to her went up to town to see her off, and all that sort of thing. But whos been chattering to you about her?
Oh, I heard her spoken of somewhere. The fellow who told me said she was rather pretty.
Yes, the other answered in rather a strange and hesitating manner, she is very pretty, and quite young.
Do you know absolutely nothing more concerning her? Chisholm asked. You always know everything about everybody when youre in the smoking-room at the Junior, you know.
In the club a man may open his mouth, but it isnt always wise when visiting friends, the colonel replied with a laugh.
I dont quite follow you, his companion said. Surely Wroxeter is as free as Charles Street, isnt it?
Well, no, not quite, my dear Dudley not quite.
Why?
Because there are some things that even I plain-spoken as I am would rather leave unsaid.
Chisholm looked at him and saw the change upon the old fellows countenance.
Youre hiding something from me, the younger man said quickly.
I dont deny that, was the others response. But I really cant see why you should so suddenly become the victim of an intense desire to know the history of Lady Meldrums ward. Have you met her?
No, never.
Then dont, thats all, was the mysterious answer.
What the dickens do you mean, speaking in enigmas like this? Surely you can speak straight out?
No, not in this case, Dudley, the colonel said in a rather softer tone. I told you sufficient this morning about Claudia Nevill, and all I wish to urge is that you should avoid the pretty Muriel quite as assiduously as you will her ladyship in future.