The Black Moth

"Yes, sir. It shan't occur again, sir."

"Certainly not. Jenny is well?"

"Splendid, sir. Will you still trust me with your pistols, sir?"

Carstares groaned.

"Will you have done? 'Twas an accident, and I have forgotten it. Here'smy hand on it!" He grasped Jim's as he spoke, and seemed to brush thewhole subject aside.

"Have you disposed of that horrible coat you tried to make me wear theother day?"

"I gave it to the landlord, sir."

"I should have burned it, but perhaps he liked it."

"He did, sir. Will you try to go to sleep now?"

"If you had a shoulder on fire and aching as mine does, you wouldn't asksuch a ridiculous question," answered Jack snappishly.

"I'm sorry, sir. Is there aught I can do?"

"You can change the bandages, if you like. These are prodigious hot anduncomfortable."

Without another word Salter set about easing his master, and he was sopainstaking and so careful not to hurt the ugly wound, and his faceexpressed so much concern, that Carstares controlled a desire to swearwhen he happened to touch a particularly tender spot, and at the endrewarded him with a smile and a sigh of content.

"That is much better," he said. "You have such a light touch, Jim."

The man's face reddened with pleasure, but he said nothing, and walkedaway to the window to draw the curtains.

CHAPTER XIII

MY LORD MAKES HIS BOW

After Jim's arrival my lord recovered quickly, each day making greatprogress, much to the doctor's satisfaction, who never tired of tellingMr. Beauleigh and Miss Betty that it was entirely owing to his treatmentthat the patient had recovered at all. As his idea of treatment mainlyconsisted of copiously bleeding John, which process Miss Betty very soonput an end to, he and she had many arguments on the subject, in which hewas completely routed. She held that Mr. Carr was well on the strengthof her nursing and his own constitution--and very probably she wasright. In any case, hardly a fortnight after O'Hara's first visit, mylord was standing before his mirror, surveying himself, with his headspeculatively on one side and a worried look in his eyes. Salter watchedhim anxiously, knowing this to be a critical moment. His master wassomewhat of an enigma to him; the important things in life neverappeared to affect him, but over a question of two cravats as opposed toeach other, or some equally trivial matter, he would become quiteharassed.

After contemplating his appearance for several moments, Carstaresfrowned and looked over his shoulder.

"I have changed my mind, Jim. I will wear blue after all." Salter sigheddespairingly.

"Ye look very well in what ye have on, sir," he grunted. Jack sat downobstinately.

"I have conceived a dislike--nay, a veritable hatred--for puce. I willwear blue."

"Now, sir, do ha' done changing your clothes! Ye'll be tired out beforeever ye get downstairs, and ye know what the doctor said."

My lord consigned the doctor and his words of wisdom to a place of greatheat.

"Ay, sir, but--"

"The doctor is a worthy individual, Jim, but he knows even less of theart of dressing than you do. He does not understand the soul-agony of aman who makes his first appearance in puce."

"But--"

"The blue coat laced with gold."

"Sir--"

"I order it! I insist; the blue coat or nought!"