The Black Moth

"Maybe ye have not. We shall see to-morrow."

"What do ye mean by to-morrow, sir?" ventured Carstares uneasily.

"Sure, ye will have the honour of appearing before me, me friend."

"Before _you_, sir?"

"Why not? I'm a Justice of the Peace, heaven save the mark!"

There was a breathless pause, and then at last the funny side of itstruck Jack, and his shoulders shook with suppressed laughter. Theexquisite irony of it was almost too much for him. He, the Earl ofWyncham, was to be formally questioned by his friend Sir Miles O'Hara,J.P.!

"What ails ye now, man? Ye find it amusing?" asked Miles, surprised.

"Oh, Lud, yes!" gasped Jack, and collapsed into his corner.

CHAPTER IX

LADY O'HARA INTERVENES

Lady O'Hara found that her big, indolent husband was unusually silentnext morning at breakfast. She had not been married long enough toconsent to being practically ignored, no matter what the time of day,but she had been married quite long enough to know that before she tookany direct action against him, she must first allow him to assuage hisappetite. Accordingly she plied him with coffee and eggs, and with asatisfied and slightly motherly air, watched him attack a sirloin ofbeef. She was a pretty, birdlike little lady, with big eyes, and softbrown curls escaping from under a demure but very becoming mob cap. Shemeasured five foot nothing in her stockings, and was sometimes referredto by her large husband as the Midget. Needless to say, this flippantappellation was in no wise encouraged by the lady.

She decided that Miles had come to the end of his repast, and, plantingtwo dimpled elbows on the table, she rested her small chin in her handsand looked across at him with something of the air of an inquisitivekitten.

"Miles!"

O'Hara leaned back in his chair, and at the sight of her freshprettiness his brow cleared and he smiled.

"Well, asthore?"

A reproachful finger was raised and a pair of red lips pouted adorably.

"Now, Miles, confess you've been vastly disagreeable this morning. Twicehave I spoken to you and you've not troubled to answer me--nay, let mefinish! And once you growled at me like a nasty bear! Yes, sir, youdid!"

"Did I now, Molly? 'Tis a surly brute you're after thinking me, then?Troth, and I've been sore perplexed, me dear."

Lady O'Hara got up and sidled round to him.

"Have you so, Miles?"

He flung an arm about her and drew her on to his knee.

"Sure, yes, Molly."

"Well then, Miles, had you not better tell me what it is that troublesyou?" she coaxed, laying a persuasive hand on his shoulder.

He smiled up at her.

"'Tis just an inquisitive puss you are!"

Again the pout.

"And ye should not pout your pretty lips at me if ye are not wanting meto kiss them!" he added, suiting the action to the word.

"But of course I do!" cried my lady, returning the kiss with fervour."Nay, Miles, tell me."

"I see ye mean to have the whole tale out of me, so--"

"To be sure I do!" she nodded.