The Black Moth

"And so is mine! I really cannot--"

"Me good boy, ye are coming to stay with us until ye are recovered, if Ihave to knock ye senseless and then carry ye!"

The lightning smile flashed into Jack's eyes.

"How ferocious! But pray do not be ridiculous over a mere scratch.Recovered, indeed!"

"Ye still look ill. Nay, Jack, take that frown off your face; 'tis of noavail, I am determined."

The door closed softly behind Jim as Carstares shook his head.

"I can't, Miles. You must see 'tis impossible."

"Pooh! No one who comes to Thurze House knows ye or anything about ye.Ye need not see a soul, but come ye must!"

"But, Miles--"

"Jack, don't be a fool! I want ye, and so does Molly. 'Tis no trap, soye need not look so scared."

"I'm not. Indeed, I am very grateful, but--I cannot. I am going abroadalmost at once."

"What?"

"Yes. I mean it."

O'Hara sat up.

"So it has come! I knew it would!"

"What mean you?"

"Ye've found out that ye love Mistress Di."

"Nonsense!"

"And she you."

Jack looked at him.

"Oh, ay! I'm a tactless oaf, I know, and me manners are atrocious to befor trying to break through the barriers ye've put up round yourself.But, I tell ye, Jack, it hurts to be kept at the end of a pole! I don'twant to force your confidence, but for God's sake don't be treating meas if I were a stranger!"

"I beg your pardon, Miles. It's confoundedly hard to confide in anyoneafter six years' solitude." He struggled into his coat as he spoke, andsettled his cravat. "If you want to know the whole truth, 'tis becauseof Diana that I am going."

"Of course. Ye are in love with her?"

"It rather points that way, does it not?"

"Then why the divil don't ye ask her to marry ye?"

"Why don't I ask her? Because I will not offer her a smirched name!Because I love her so much that--" He broke off with a shaky, furiouslaugh. "How can you ask me such a question? I am a desirable _parti,hein? Nom d'un nom_! For what do you take me?"

O'Hara looked up, calmly studying the wrathful countenance.

"Chivalrous young fool," he drawled.

Again the short, angry laugh.

"It is so likely that I should ask her to marry me, is it not?'Mademoiselle, you see in me an improvident fool: I began life bycheating at cards, and since then--' Oh, I shall believe it myself erelong! I seem to have told it to so many people. And I lay myself open tothe impertinences of--" he checked himself, thinking of the interviewdownstairs with Mr. Beauleigh.