Salter looked an inquiry.
"Yes," nodded Carstares. "Very sorry. The fat man would appear to bullyand browbeat him after the manner of his kind; he even blamed him for myadvent, the greasy coward! Yes, Jim, you are right--he did not appeal tome, _ce M. Fudby_. So--" ingenuously, "I relieved him of his cash-boxand two hundred guineas. A present for the poor of Lewes."
Jim jerked his shoulder, frowning.
"If ye give away all ye get, sir, why do ye rob at all?" he askedbluntly.
His whimsical little smile played about my lord's mouth.
"'Tis an object for my life, Jim: a noble object. And I believe itamuses me to play Robin Hood--take from the rich to give to the poor,"he added, for Salter's benefit. "But to return to my victims--you wouldhave laughed had you but seen my little man come tumbling out of thecoach when I opened the door!"
"Tumble, sir? Why should he do that?"
"He was at pains to explain the reason. It seems he had been commandedto hold the door to prevent my entering--so when I jerked it open,sooner than loose his hold, he fell out on to the road. Of course, Iapologised most abjectly--and we had some conversation. Quite a nicelittle man.... It made me laugh to see him sprawling on the road,though!"
"Wish I could have seen it, your honour. I would ha' liked fine to ha'been beside ye." He looked down at the lithe form with some pride. "I'dgive something to see ye hold up a coach, sir!"
Haresfoot in hand, Jack met his admiring eyes in the glass, and laughed.
"I make no doubt you would.... I have cultivated a superb voice, atrifle thick and beery, a little loud, perhaps--ah, something to dreamof o' nights! I doubt they do, too," he added reflectively, and affixedthe patch at the corner of his mouth.
"So? A little low, you think? But 'twill suffice--What's toward?"
Down below in the street there was a great stirring and bustling:horses' hoofs, shouts from the ostlers, and the sound of wheels on thecobble-stones. Jim went to the window and looked down, craning his neckto see over the balcony.
"'Tis a coach arrived, sir."
"That much had I gathered," replied my lord, busy with the powder.
"Yes, sir. O lord, sir!" He was shaken with laughter.
"What now?"
"'Tis the curiousest sight, sir! Two gentlemen, one fat and t'othersmall! One's all shrivelled-looking, like a spider, while t'other--"
"Resembles a hippopotamus--particularly in the face?"
"Well yes, sir. He do rather. And he be wearing purple."
"Heavens, yes! Purple, and an orange waistcoat!"
Jim peered afresh.
"So it is, sir! But how did you know?" Even as he put the question,understanding flashed into Jim's eyes.
"I rather think that I have had the honour of meeting these gentlemen,"replied my lord placidly. "My buckle, Jim.... Is't a prodigious greatcoach with wheels picked out in yellow?"
"Ay, your honour. The gentlemen seem a bit put out, too."
"That is quite probable. Does the smaller gentleman wearsomewhat--ah--muddied garments?"
"I can't see, sir; he stands behind the fat gentleman."
"Mr. Bumble Bee.... Jim!"
"Sir!" Jim turned quickly at the sound of the sharp voice.
He found that my lord had risen, and was holding up a waistcoat ofpea-green pattern on a bilious yellow ground, between a disgusted fingerand thumb. Before his severe frown Jim dropped his eyes and stoodlooking for all the world like a schoolboy detected in some crime.