The Masqueraders

‘Your papa, as I believe,’ announced Mr Merriot.

‘I am afraid it is,’ agreed Miss Letty. ‘Yet with the gout plaguing him so much – oh lud! As I live, ’tis Anthony!’

Miss Merriot threw her brother a comical look. ‘And so your desires are fulfilled, child. We are all impatience, Letty.’

Mr Merriot stood by her chair, and took snuff. The door opened to admit a large gentleman, who came in very leisurely.

‘Lud, it’s a mammoth!’ said Miss Merriot, for her brother’s private ear.

‘Oh, are you jealous?’ he retorted.

The large gentleman paused on the threshold and put up his quizzing-glass, through which he blandly surveyed the room. He was a very large gentleman indeed, with magnificent shoulders and a fine leg. He seemed rather to fill the room; he had certainly a presence, and a personality. He wore a tie wig of plain brown, and carried his hat under his arm. The hilt of his sword peeped out from between the folds of his greatcoat, but in his hand he held a cane.

‘The gentleman would appear to be annoyed,’ murmured Mr Merriot, looking at the lines about the newcomer’s mouth and square jowl.

‘La, my dear, how can you say so?’ marvelled Miss Merriot, seeing the large gentleman’s grey eyes calm and bored. She rose with an air, and swept a curtsey. The gentleman must not be allowed to dominate the room thus. It seemed he had the way of it. ‘Make your leg, child,’ she threw over her shoulder at Peter. ‘We are under observation.’

The sternness about Sir Anthony’s mouth vanished. He smiled and showed a row of very even white teeth. He bowed with easy grace. ‘Madam, your most obedient! Sir, yours!’

Mr Merriot took Miss Letty by the hand. ‘Permit me to restore to you Miss Grayson, sir,’ he said, ignoring an indignant protest from the lady.

Sir Anthony showed no desire to receive Miss Grayson, who looked him defiantly between the eyes. He smiled still, but he did not offer to take her hand. ‘You should be whipped, Letty,’ he said pleasantly.

Miss Grayson flushed. ‘’Deed, sir, and did you bring your cane for that purpose?’ she demanded.

‘No, my dear, but I should be happy to benefit you that far.’

Peter Merriot was amused, and permitted his chuckle to be heard. ‘Faith, it’s a stern suitor.’

‘You are – very rude – and – and – and hateful!’ declared Miss Grayson, outraged.

Sir Anthony laid down his cane and his hat, and began to take off his greatcoat. As one who had no further interest in Miss Grayson he took out his snuff-box, unfobbed it, and held it out to Mr Merriot. His hand was very white and finely shaped, but it looked to have some strength. ‘Sir,’ said he, smiling sleepily for all his grey eyes were alert beneath their rather heavy lids, ‘you will permit me to thank you on behalf of my friend, Sir Humphrey Grayson, for your services to his daughter.’

Mr Merriot helped himself to a pinch of snuff. Grey eyes met grey; the humorous look played around Mr Merriot’s mouth. ‘Lud, here’s a solemnity!’ he said. ‘I am Miss Grayson’s servant to command.’

Miss Grayson forgot her dignity. ‘Tony, ’twas wonderful! His sword was out in a trice, and I thought he was about to run that odious Markham right through the body, but just as it was too monstrously exciting for words the point seemed to flash upwards and the hilt caught Markham on the chin.’ She demonstrated with a small fist to her own pretty chin. ‘He went down like a stone,’ she ended dramatically. Her glance fell on Miss Merriot by the fire. ‘And Miss Merriot too was splendid, Tony, for she pretended to swoon in Markham’s arms.’

Mr Merriot looked down at his sister something quizzically. ‘My dear, I eclipse you,’ he murmured. He turned again to Sir Anthony. ‘Thus we mourn our departed suitor. Now where did you find my man John?’ He began to pour wine, and handed one glass to the large gentleman.

‘At Stilton,’ Sir Anthony replied. ‘Just before I saw my friend Mr Markham. He was endeavouring to hide a chaise and horses which – er – aroused my suspicions. He was induced to confide in me.’

Mr Merriot looked meditatively at that square handsome face. ‘I wonder why?’ he said, for he knew his John.

A singularly attractive smile crossed Sir Anthony’s f

ace. ‘My charm of manner, sir, I believe,’ he said.

There came a laugh from Miss Merriot. ‘I begin to have a kindness for the large gentleman,’ she remarked to the room at large. ‘And you met the so dear Mr Markham, sir?’

‘Hardly, madam. I had rather say I saw the so dear Mr Markham pass me in a cloud of – mud, I believe.’

‘I wonder, did he see you?’ Miss Merriot’s eyes were bright with laughter.

‘I am almost persuaded that he did,’ said Sir Anthony.

‘Then I take it we are not to expect his return?’ Miss Merriot cocked a knowing eyebrow.

‘I hardly think so, madam,’ said Sir Anthony placidly.