"You knew 'twas I?"
"I had me suspicions, of course."
"I wish--oh, how I wish you had voiced them!"
O'Hara raised his eyebrows, and there fell a little silence. His Graceof Andover broke it, coming forward in his inimitable way. He lookedround the room at each member of the company.
"One, two, three--four, five--" he counted. "Andrew, tell them to laycovers for five in the dining-room."
"Aren't you staying?" asked his brother, surprised.
"I have supped," replied Tracy coolly.
For a moment O'Hara's mouth twitched, and then he burst out laughing.Everyone looked at him inquiringly.
"Ecod!" he gasped. "Oh, sink me an I ever came across a more amusingvillain! 'Lay covers for five!' Oh, damme!"
"Or should I have said six?" continued his Grace imperturbably. "Am Inot to have the honour of Mr. Beauleigh's company?"
O'Hara checked his mirth.
"No, ye are not! He was content to let me manage the business, and wentback to Littledean."
"I am sorry," bowed his Grace, and turned to my lord, who, with his armabout Diana's waist, was watching him arrogantly.
"I see how the land lies," he remarked. "I congratulate you, John. Icannot help wishing that I had finished you that day in the road. Permitme to say that you fence rather creditably."
My lord bowed stiffly.
"Of course," continued his Grace smoothly, "you also wish you haddisposed of me. I sympathise. But, however much you may inwardly despiseand loathe me, you cannot show it--unless you choose to make yourselfand me the talk of town--not forgetting Mistress Diana. Also I abhor badtragedy. So I trust you will remain here to-night as my guest--er,Andrew, pray do not omit to order bed-chambers to beprepared--Afterwards you need never come near me again--in fact, I hopethat you will not."
My lord could not entirely repress a smile.
"I thank your Grace for your hospitality, which I fear," he glanced downat Diana's tired face, "I shall be compelled to accept. As to therest--I agree. Like you, I dislike bad tragedy."
Diana gave a tiny laugh.
"You are all so stiff!" she said _I_ shall go to bed!"
"I will take you to the stairs then," said Jack promptly, and led herforward.
She stopped as they were about to pass his Grace, and faced him.
Tracy bowed very low.
"Good-night, madam. Carstares will know which room I had assigned toyou. You will find a servant there."
"Thank you," she said steadily
. "I shall try to forget the happenings ofthis day, your Grace. I see the truth in what you say--we cannot affordto let the world see that we are at enmity, lest it should talk. And, Iconfess it freely, I find it less hard to forgive you the insults of--ofto-day, since they brought--Jack--to me. An I had not been in such direstraits, I might never have seen him again."
"In fact," bowed his Grace, "everything has been for the best!"
"I would not say that, sir," she replied, and went out.
For a moment there was silence in the room. No one quite knew what tosay. As usual, it was Tracy who came to the rescue, breaking anuncomfortable pause.
"I suggest that we adjourn to the dining-room," he said. "I gather wemay have to wait some time before his lordship reappears. O'Hara, afteryou!"