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His name is Hesketh " "Not Sir Thorald?" cried Jack. "Eh? yes, that's the man. Know him?" "A little," said Jack, laughing, and went out, bidding Graham good-night, and promising to have him roused at dawn. "Aren't you going to turn in?" called Grahame, fearful of having inconvenienced Jack in his own quarters. "Yes," said the young fellow. "I won't wake you I'll be back in an hour."
"Can't make head or tail of it; can you?" he demanded. Sir Thorald took it and read aloud: "New York Herald offers you your own price and all expenses. Cable, if accepted." "'Cable, if accepted," repeated Betty Castlemaine; "accept what?" "Exactly! What?" said Jack. "Do they want a story? What do 'expenses' mean? I'm not going to Africa again if I know it."
A captain came later and asked for a Sister of Mercy. "She can't go," said Jack, in a low voice. But little Alixe rose, still crying, and followed the captain to the stables, where a dozen mangled soldiers lay in the straw and hay. It was midnight when she returned to find Jack standing beside Sir Thorald in the dark. When he saw it was Alixe he led her gently into the hall.
"Never mind!" said Molly, sharply; but she crimsoned when he kissed her, and held tightly to his sleeve. "Good ged!" thought Sir Thorald; "what a devil I am with women!" But now the carriages drove up coupés, dog-carts, and a victoria.
At that moment Sir Thorald caught sight of Jack Marche, strolling up through the trees, gun tucked under his left arm. "No luncheon, no salad, no champagne-cup, no cigarette!" he called; "all gone! all gone! Molly's smoked my last " "Jack Marche, where have you been?" demanded Molly Hesketh. "No, you needn't dodge my accusing finger! Barbara, look at him!"
He lies in his room all day, silent, ghastly white. He does not believe that Alixe did what she did and died there at Morteyn. Oh, I am glad you are here. Jack says you must tell Rickerl nothing about Sir Thorald; nobody is to know that now all is ended." "Yes," said Dorothy. When they came to the house, Archibald Grahame and Lady Hesketh met them at the door.
"Betty and I will select the men," said Lady Hesketh, sweetly; "you may do as you please." He did. He suggested a great many, and wrote a list for his wife. That prudent young woman carefully crossed out every name, saying, "Thorald! I am ashamed of you!" and substituted another list.
"Not the little, red, squeaky kind," added Sir Thorald; "Molly, he is an amateur aeronaut." "He'd much better take care of Lorraine. The poor child runs wild all over the country. They say she rides like a witch on a broom " "Astride?" cried Sir Thorald. "For shame!" said his wife; "I I upon my word, I have heard that she has done that, too. Ricky! what do you mean by yawning?"
A great pity filled him, and he touched the half-opened hand with his own. Sir Thorald looked up at him wistfully. "I am not worth it," he said. "Yes, we all are worth it." "I am not," gasped Sir Thorald. "Jack, you are good. Do you believe, at least, that I loved her?" "Yes, if you say so." "I do in the shadow of death." Jack was silent. "I never loved before," said Sir Thorald.
"Pooh!" said the old vicomte; "I must show them how to fish. Helen, I shall go fishing " "Some time," said his wife, gently. "Betty, where are the men?" "Jack and Barbara Lisle are fishing; Sir Thorald and Lady Hesketh are in the green boat, and Ricky is rowing them. The others are somewhere. Ricky got a telegram, and must go to Berlin."
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