‘Lord, yes, and so would you be if you knew as much about Wyndham’s cousin as I do!’
The maid-servant came back into the room. ‘Oh, if you please, sir! Mr Brown’s not in his room,’ she said, dropping a curtsey.
The effect of this pronouncement was startling. The Major gave a roar like that of a baffled bull; Cedric’s laughter was cut short; and Sir Richard let his eyeglass fall.
‘I knew it! Oh, I knew it!’ raged the Major. ‘Now, sir!’
Sir Richard recovered himself swiftly. ‘Pray do not be absurd, sir!’ he said, with more asperity than Cedric ever remembered to have heard in his voice before. ‘My cousin has in all probability stepped out to enjoy the air. He is an early riser.’
‘If you please, sir, the young gentleman has taken his cloak-bag with him.’
The Major seemed to be having considerable difficulty in holding his fury within bounds. Cedric, observing his gobblings with a sapient eye, begged him to be careful. ‘I knew a man once who got into just such a taking. He burst a blood-vessel. True as I sit here!’
The maid-servant, upon whom the Honourable Cedric’s charm of manner had not fallen unappreciated, smothered a giggle, and twisted one corner of her apron into a screw. ‘There was a letter for your honour upon the mantelshelf when I did the room out,’ she volunteered.
Sir Richard swung round on his heel, and went to the fireplace. Pen’s note, which she had propped up against the clock, had fallen down, and so missed his eye. He picked it up, a little pale of countenance, and retired with it to the window.
‘My dear Richard,’ Pen had written. ‘This is to say goodbye to you, and to thank you very much for all your kindness. I have made up my mind to return to Aunt Almeria, for the notion of our being obliged to marry is preposterous. I shall tell her some tale that will satisfy her. Dear sir, it was truly a splendid adventure. Your very obliged servant, Penelope Creed.
P.S. I will send back your cravats and the cloak-bag, and indeed I thank you, dear Richard.’
Cedric, watching his friend’s rigid face, dragged himself out of his chair, and lounged across to lay a hand on Sir Richard’s shoulder. ‘Ricky, dear boy! Now, what is it?’
‘I demand to see that letter!’ barked the Major.
Sir Richard folded the sheet, and slipped it into his innerpocket. ‘Be content, sir: my cousin has not eloped with your daughter.’
‘I don’t believe you!’
‘If you mean to give me the lie –’ Sir Richard checked himself, and turned to the abigail. ‘When did Mr Brown leave this place?’
‘I don’t know, sir. But Parks was downstairs – the waiter, sir.’
‘Fetch him.’
‘If your cousin has not gone off with my daughter, show me that letter!’ demanded the Major.
The Honourable Cedric let his hand fall from Sir Richard’s shoulder, and strolled into the middle of the room, an expression of disdain upon his aristocratic countenance. ‘You, sir – Daubenay, or whatever your name may be – I don’t know what maggot’s got into your head, but damme, I’m tired of it! For the lord’s sake, go away!’
‘I shall not stir from this room until I know the truth!’ declared the Major. ‘I should not be surprised if I found that you were both in league with that young whippersnapper!’
‘Damme, there’s something devilish queer about the air of this place!’ said Cedric. ‘It’s my belief you’re all mad!’
At this moment the gloomy waiter came into the room. His disclosure that Pen had gone to Bristol with Mrs Hopkins made Sir Richard’s face assume a more mask-like expression than ever, but they could not fail to assuage one at least of the Major’s alarms. He mopped his brow, and said gruffly that he saw that he had made a mistake.
‘That’s what we’ve been telling you,’ Cedric pointed out. ‘I’ll tell you another thing, sir: I want my breakfast, and I’ll be damned if I’ll sit down to it with you dancing about the room, and shouting in my ear. It ain’t restful!’
‘But I don’t understand!’ complained the Major in a milder tone. ‘She said she went out to meet your cousin, sir!’
‘I have already told you, sir, that your daughter and my cousin both talked a deal of nonsense,’ said Sir Richard, over his shoulder.
‘You mean she said it to make me believe – to throw dust in my eyes? Upon my soul!’
‘Now, don’t start that again!’ begged Cedric.
‘She has gone off with young Luttrell!’ exploded the Major. ‘By God, I’ll break every bone in his body!’
‘Well, we don’t mind that,’ said Cedric. ‘You go and do it, sir! Don’t waste a moment! Waiter, the door!’
