Miss Thane cast down her eyes to hide the laughter in them, and replied in a saddened tone: ‘When she told me the whole I thought it impossible that anyone could be so devoid of all sensibility, but now that I have seen you I realize that she spoke no less than the melancholy truth. A man who could remain unaffected by the thought of a young girl, dressed in white, all alone, and in a tumbril –’
His brow cleared; he gave a short laugh. ‘Does that rankle? But really I am past the age of being impressed by such absurdities.’
Miss Thane sighed. ‘Perhaps that might be forgiven, but your heartlessness in refusing to ride ventre à terre to her death-bed –’
‘Good God, surely she cannot have fled the house for such a ridiculous reason?’ exclaimed Shield, considerably exasperated. ‘Why she should continually be harping on the notion of her own death passes my comprehension! She seems to me a perfectly healthy young woman.’
Miss Thane looked at him in horror. ‘You did not tell her that, I trust?’
‘I don’t know what I told her. I might very easily.’
‘If I were you,’ said Miss Thane, ‘I would give up this idea you have of marrying your cousin. You would not suit.’
‘I’m fast coming to that conclusion myself,’ he said. ‘Moreover, Miss – What is your name?’
‘Thane,’ replied Sarah.
‘Thane?’ he repeated. ‘I fancy I have met someone of that name, but I do not immediately recall –’
‘At Mendoza’s Saloon,’ interpolated Sarah helpfully.
He looked a little amused. ‘Yes, possibly. But do you –’
‘Or even at Brooks’s.’
‘I am certainly a member.’
‘My brother,’ said Sarah. ‘He is at present in bed, nursing a severe cold, but I dare say he will like to receive you.’
‘It is extremely obliging of him, but my sole desire is to see my cousin, Miss Thane.’
Sarah, whose attention had been caught by the sound of an arrival, paid no heed to this hint, but peeped over the short window-blind. What she saw made her feel uneasy; she turned her head and requested Sir Tristram to come at once. ‘Tell me,’ she commanded, ‘who are these two men in uniform?’
He came to the window. ‘Only a couple of Excisemen,’ he answered, after a casual glance.
‘Oh, is that all?’ said Miss Thane in rather a hollow voice. ‘I expect they have come to see what Nye keeps in his cellars. My brother fancies it is all smuggled liquor.’
He looked at her in some perplexity. ‘They won’t find anything. May I remind you, ma’am, that I wish to see my cousin?’
Miss Thane, having watched one of the Excisemen dismount and go into the inn, was straining her ears to catch what was being said in the coffee-room. She heard the landlord’s deep voice, and wondered whether he had succeeded in persuading Ludovic to descend into the cellar. She looked at Sir Tristram, reflecting that he could not have chosen a more opportune moment for his arrival. She ought to get rid of him, she supposed, but he did not seem to be the sort of man to be easily fobbed off. She said confidentially: ‘Do you know, I think it would be wisest if you were to leave your cousin with me for the present?’
‘You are extremely good, ma’am, but I mean to carry her to my mother in Bath.’
‘Backgammon?’ said Miss Thane knowledgeably. ‘She won’t go. In fact, I hardly think it is worth your while to remain here, for she is set against seeing you.’
‘Miss Thane,’ said Sir Tristram dangerously, ‘it is quite evident to me that you are trying to prevent my seeing my cousin. I have not the smallest notion why she does not wish to see me. But I am going to see her. I trust I have made myself quite plain?’
‘Yes, quite,’ said Miss Thane, catching an echo of Eustacie’s voice joined with Nye’s in the coffee-room.
It seemed as though Shield had heard it too, for he turned his head towards the door, listening. Then he looked back at Sarah and said: ‘You had better tell me at once, ma’am: what scrape is she in?’
‘Oh, none at all!’ Miss Thane assured him, and added sharply: ‘Where are you going?’
‘To find out for myself !’ said Shield, opening the door, and striding off to the coffee-room.
Miss Thane, feeling that as an accomplice she had not been a success, followed him helplessly.
In the coffee-room were gathered the landlord, Mademoiselle de Vauban, an Excise officer, and the tapster. The Excise officer was looking suspiciously from Eustacie to Nye, and Eustacie was talking volubly and with a great deal of gesticulation. When she saw her cousin on the threshold she broke off, and stared at him in consternation. The landlord shot a look at Sir Tristram under his jutting brows, but said nothing.