The Black Moth

Diana's eyes challenged him.

"Stand back, your Grace! You have no more to do here!"

He drew out his snuff-box and took a pinch.

"So that is how the matter lies, my dear. I did not know that."

"You pretend that it would have made a difference in your treatment ofme?"

"Not the slightest, child," he replied, shutting the box with a snap."It has merely come as a slight surprise to me. It seems he has the luckthis round." He walked away again as another great bell-peal soundedthrough the house.

Andrew, pouring cognac into a glass, paused with bottle held in mid-air.

"Thunder and turf! We are like to be a party! Who now?" He set the glassdown and lounged out of the room, bottle in hand. They heard him give anastonished cry and a loud laugh, and the next moment O'Hara strode intothe room, booted and spurred and enveloped in a heavy surcoat. He cameswiftly upon the little group about my lord and went down on one kneebeside him. His eyes seemed to take in everyone at a glance. Then helooked across at Richard.

"Is he alive?"

Richard nodded, not meeting the hard, anxious gaze.

O'Hara bent over his friend.

"He has been wounded?"

Diana answered this.

"Only slightly, Sir Miles, but 'twas his shoulder again. He was tiredafter the ride--Mr. Carstares thinks he has fainted from exhaustion."

O'Hara very gently slipped one arm beneath my lord's shoulders and theother under his knees, rising with him as easily as if he were carryinga baby. He walked over to the couch, lowering his burden on to thecushions that Diana placed to receive him.

"He will be easier there," he said, and looked across at her.

"Ye are quite safe, child?"

"Quite--quite--He came just in time--and fought for me." She dabbedopenly at her eyes. "I--I love him so, Sir Miles--and now I hear that heis an Earl!" she sighed.

"Well, child, 'twill make no difference, I take it. I hope he'll make yehappy."

She smiled through her tears very confidently.

O'Hara turned and faced Richard, who was standing a little in the rear,watching his brother's face. He met O'Hara's scathing look squarely.

"Well?"

"Nought," answered the Irishman cuttingly, and walked over to where LordAndrew was arguing hotly with his brother.

Carstares returned to my lord's side and stood looking silently down athim.

Diana suddenly gave a little joyful cry.

"He is coming round! He moved his head! Oh, Jack, my dear one, look atme!" She bent over him with eyes alight with love.

My lord's eyelids flickered and opened. For a moment he stared at her.

"Why--Diana!" She took his head between her hands and kissed him full onthe mouth. Then she raised his head to look into the blue eyes.

My lord's arm crept round her and held her tight against him. After amoment she disengaged herself and stood aside. Jack's eyes, still alittle bewildered, fell upon his brother. He struggled up on his elbow.

"Am I dreaming? _Dick_!" His voice was full of a great joy. Richard wentquickly to him, trying to put him back on the cushions.