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Our voices had risen in anger; a silence fell on the party, all turning from their talk to listen to us. Carford's face went red when I gave him the lie so directly and the more fiercely because, to my shame and wonder, I had begun to suspect that what he said was no lie. But I followed up the attack briskly.
She accused him of cowardice and plainly hinted to him that, if he failed her, she would turn to one who was no coward, let him be as discourteous and indifferent as his sullen disposition made him. I am sorry I was not there to see Carford's face. But he was in the net of her challenge now, and a bold front alone would serve.
She triumphed in her success as girls will, blind to its perils as girls are; and Monmouth made no secret of his hopes of success, as he sat between Carford's stolid face and my downcast eyes. "She's the loveliest creature in the world," he would cry. "Come, drink a toast to her!" I drank silently, while Carford led him on to unrestrained boasts and artfully fanned his passion.
"You've made yours," he smiled. "Hark, what's that?" As he spoke there came the sound of horse's hoofs. A moment later the figures of two mounted men emerged from the darkness. By some impulse, I know not what, I ran behind the Vicar and sheltered myself in the porch at his back. Carford's arrival had set my mind astir again, and new events found ready welcome.
And it seemed to fit most aptly and most lamentably with what had befallen me, and to throw light on what had been a puzzle. It was hard on four years since I had parted from Cydaria; but that night I felt that, if the thing were true, I should receive Carford's point in my heart without a pang.
The Duke's face was as glum and his air as ill-tempered as I could wish. Carford's manner was subdued, calm, and sympathetic. They were talking earnestly as I entered but ceased their conversation at once. I offered my services. "I have no need of you this morning, Simon," answered the Duke. "I'm engaged with Lord Carford." I retired.
Yet it was not very likely that Carford would tell me, unless his rage carried him away. "You are not so kind as to shield me from Lord Carford's wrath?" I asked rather scornfully. "No," she said, persistently refusing to meet my eyes. "What is he doing here?" I asked. "He desires to conduct me to my father." "My God, you won't go with him?"
I cared not a jot for Carford's anger, and was determined not to give ground. But we had no more time for quarrelling. "I am as loyal as loyal to my father as any man in the kingdom," said the Duke in maudlin confidence. "But you know what's afoot?" "A new war with the Dutch, I'm told, sir," said I. "A fig for the Dutch! Hush, we must speak low, there may be Papists about.
Carford's readiness to repel a charge not brought caught my notice, and made me ponder more on certain other conferences to which also his Grace my patron was a stranger. His Grace was not our schoolmaster. But I was deceived, most amiably deceived, and held my tongue as he prayed.
There men were not ashamed to be spies themselves, nor to use their wives in the same office. There to see no evil was to shut your eyes. I determined to keep mine open in the interests of my new patron, of an older friend, and perhaps of myself also, for Carford's present civility scarcely masked his dislike.
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