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Sir Robert was quietly confident, and Kilshaw fiercely exultant; Medland's friends hoped against hope, and, secure of their position in the capital, flooded the country with eager missionaries. Passion ran high, and there had been one or two disturbing incidents.
It was summed up in negations; and these again melted into one great want, the absence of the man to whom her imagination and her heart blindly and obstinately clung. Lady Eynesford had left her newspaper, and Alicia found her hand upon it. Taking it up, she read Medland's evidence at the inquest. A sudden revulsion of feeling seized her.
"By Jove!" he said, "it's simply you know, Al simply fetching to see them together. He's a splendid chap not an ounce of side or nonsense about him. And she's awfully pretty. Don't you think she's awfully pretty, Al?" "I only saw her for a moment, dear." "It's too bad of Mary to go on as she does. She simply ignores Miss Medland." "Miss Medland's still very young, Dick.
In the haste of an unreasoning impulse, she went to Medland's house, full of the idea of dissociating herself from what had been done, only dimly conscious of difficulties which, if they existed, she was yet resolute to sweep away. Convention should not stand between, nor cost her a single unkind thought from him. She asked for Daisy Medland, and was shown into Daisy's little room.
She saw the meeting, and presently she noticed the Governor ride on with Daisy Medland, while Alicia walked her horse and kept pace with the Premier. They passed by her on the other side of the broad avenue, Medland acknowledging her salutation but not crossing to speak to her. She saw Alicia's heightened colour and the eager interest with which she bent down to catch Medland's words.
Medland's followers were not there in much force, being for the most part employed elsewhere, and indeed at no time much given to club-life, or suited for it, but there were many of Perry's, and still more of those who had followed Puttock, or were reported to be about to follow Coxon, and among them the members for several divisions in and near Kirton.
The Governor dismounted and stood by his brother, but before Dick could lift Medland's head, a rough woman, in a coarse gown, pushed through, elbowing him and Lord Eynesford aside. "Let me, gentlemen," she said, her eyes full of tears, as she pillowed his head in her lap. "He's always been for us, Mr. Medland has," she explained. "Give me a clean handkerchief, one of you."
Medland's position, it adjourned for a fortnight in order to allow time for the reorganisation of the Government, and the preparation of its legislative projects. The Governor seized the opportunity and started on a shooting expedition, accompanied by his wife. His absence somewhat diminished the éclat of Sir John Oakapple's dance, but nevertheless it was agreed to be a very brilliant affair.
The worst of it was that Puttock had the reputation of being an uncommonly good hand at a bargain. "Yet Mr. Medland's a very clever man," he observed. "Oh, clever, yes; but I fear unstable, Mr. Benham." "I suppose so. After all a man's private life is some guide, isn't it?" "Some guide!" exclaimed Puttock. "Surely you understate the case. If a man's private life is discreditable "
For a time he stuck out that he knew nothing about it, but they threatened him with heaven knows what, and at last he confessed to having seen this Gaspard in company with the murdered man in Digby Square a little before twelve on the night." "By Jove! That's awkward!" said the Captain. Coxon showed more interest now, and remarked, "Why, Gaspard was one of Medland's organisers.
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