The Black Moth

With an impatient movement O'Hara flung back his chair and strode overto the window with his back to my lord. Jack's eyes followed himseriously.

"If ye cannot trust me, sure I've no more to say, thin!" flashed O'Hara."It seems ye do not value your friends too highly!"

My lord said never a word. But the hand that rested on the desk clenchedsuddenly. O'Hara wheeled about and came back to his side.

"Sure, Jack, I never meant that! Forgive me bad temper!"

Carstares slipped off the table and straightened himself, linking hisarm in the Irishman's.

"Whisht, Miles, as you'd say yourself," he laughed, "I know that. 'Tisnot that I don't trust you, but--"

"I understand. I'll not ask ye any more about it at all. Instead, answerme this: what made ye come out with unloaded pistols?"

The laugh died out of Carstares' face.

"Oh, just carelessness!" he answered shortly, and he thought of theabsent Jim with a tightening of the lips.

"'Twas that very same reason with meself thin!" Jack stared at him.

"Miles, don't tell me yours were unloaded, too?"

"'Deed an' they were! Ecod, Jack! 'tis the best joke I've heard for atwelvemonth." They both started to laugh. "Sure 'twas bluff on my part,Jack, when I told ye yours was unloaded. And me lady was determined toset you free from the moment I told her all about it this morning. Wewere sure ye were no ordinary highwayman, though I was a fool not tohave known ye right away. But now I have found ye out, ye'll stay withus--Cousin Harry?"

"I cannot thank you enough, Miles, but I will not do that. I must getback to Jim."

"And who the devil is Jim?"

"My servant. He'll be worried nigh to death over me. Nay, do not pressme, I could not stay here, Miles. You must see for yourself 'tisimpossible--Jack Carstares does not exist; only Anthony Ferndale isleft."

"Jack, dear man, can I not--"

"No, Miles, you can do nothing, though 'tis like you to want to help,and I do thank you. But--oh well! ... What about my mare?"

"Plague take me if I'd not forgotten! Jack, that scoundrel of mine lether strain her fetlock. I'm demmed sorry."

"Poor Jenny! I'll swear she gave him an exciting ride, though."

"I'll be trying to buy her off ye, Jack, if I see much of her. 'Tis alittle beauty she is."

"I'm not selling, though I intended to ask you to keep her, if--"

A quick pressure on his arm arrested him.

"That will do! I'm too heavy for her anyway."

"So was that devil of a groom you put on her."

"Ay. I'm a fool."

"I always knew that."

"Whisht now, Jack! Ye'll have to take one of my nags while she heals, ifye won't stay with us. Can ye trust her to me for a week, do yesuppose?"

"I don't know. It seems as though I must--oh, I retract, I retract. Youare altogether too large, the day is too hot, and my cravat too nicelytied--Egad, Miles! I wish--oh, I _wish_ we were boys again, and--Yes.When may I see your son and heir?"

"Sure, ye may come now and find Molly, who'll be aching for the sight ofyou. Afther you, Sir Anthony Ferndale, Bart!"

CHAPTER XI