‘My good sir, your daughter and my cousin talked a great deal of nonsense, but I assure you they have not eloped together.’
‘Very well, sir, very well! Where then is your cousin at this moment?’
‘In his bed, I imagine.’
‘Then send for him!’ barked the Major.
‘As you please,’ Sir Richard said, and strolled over to the bell, and pulled it.
He had scarcely released it when the door opened, and the Honourable Cedric walked in, magnificently arrayed in a brocade dressing-gown of vivid and startling design. ‘What the deuce is the matter?’ he asked plaintively. ‘Never heard such an ungodly racket in my life! Ricky, dear old boy, you ain’tdressed?’
‘Yes,’ sighed Sir Richard. ‘It is a great bore, however.
‘But, my dear fellow, it ain’t nine o’clock!’ said Cedric in horrified tones. ‘Damme if I know what has come over you! You can’t start the day at this hour: it ain’t decent!’
‘I know, Ceddie, but when in Rome, one – er – is obliged to cultivate the habits of the Romans. Ah, allow me to present Major Daubenay – Mr Brandon!’
‘Servant, sir!’ snapped the Major, with the stiffest of bows.
‘Oh, how d’ye do?’ said Cedric vaguely. ‘Deuced queer hours you keep in the country!’
‘I am not here upon a visit of courtesy!’ said the Major.
‘Now, don’t tell me you’ve been quarrelling, Ricky!’ begged Cedric. ‘It sounded devilish like it to me. Really, dear boy, you might have remembered I was sleeping above you. Never at my best before noon, y’know. Besides, it ain’t like you!’
He lounged, yawning, across the room to an armchair by the fireplace, and dropped into it, stretching his long legs out before him. The Major glared at him, and said pointedly that he had come to see Sir Richard upon a private matter.
This hint passed over Cedric’s head. ‘What we want is some coffee – strong coffee!’ he said.
A maid-servant in a mobbed cap came in just then, and seemed astonished to find the room occupied. ‘Oh, I beg pardon, sir! I thought the bell rang!’
‘It did,’ said Sir Richard. ‘Have the goodness to tap on Mr Brown’s door, and to request him to step downstairs as soon as he shall have dressed. Major Daubenay wishes to speak to him.’
‘Hey, wait a minute!’ commanded Cedric. ‘Bring some coffee first, there’s a good girl!’
‘Yes, sir,’ said the maid, looking flustered.
‘Coffee!’ exploded Major Daubenay.
Cedric cocked an intelligent eyebrow. ‘Don’t like the notion? What shall it be? Myself, I think it’s too early for brandy, but if you fancy a can of ale, say the word!’
‘I want nothing, sir! Sir Richard, while we waste time in such idle fripperies as these, that young dog is abducting my daughter!’
‘Fetch Mr Brown,’ Sir Richard told the servant.
‘Abduction, by Jupiter!’ said Cedric. ‘What young dog?’
‘Major Daubenay,’ said Sir Richard, ‘is labouring under the delusion that my cousin eloped last night with his daughter.’
‘Eh?’ Cedric blinked. An unholy gleam stole into his eyes as he glanced from Sir Richard to the Major; he said unsteadily: ‘No, by Jove, you don’t mean it? You ought to keep him in better order, Ricky!’
‘Yes!’ said the Major. ‘He ought indeed! But instead of that he has – I will not sayabettedthe young scoundrel – but adopted an attitude which I can only describe as callous, sir, and supine!’
Cedric shook his head. ‘That’s Ricky all over.’ His gravity broke down. ‘Oh lord, what the deuce put it into your head your daughter had gone off with his cousin? I’ll tell you what, it’s the richest jest I’ve heard in months! Ricky, if I don’t roast you for this for years to come!’
‘You are going to the Peninsula, Ceddie,’ Sir Richard said, with a lurking smile.
‘You are amused, sir!’ the Major said, bristling.
