Part 56 (2/2)

”She may be an hour, Maurice,” Lionel said, restlessly. ”I don't want anybody to wait on me. If you think it necessary, call up Mrs. Jenkins, and she can sit in the next room; the bell here is enough. Oh, my head!--my head!”--and he turned away, wearily.

Maurice saw well enough that he would never rest until this money was paid, so he called up the house-porter's wife and gave her some instructions, and forthwith set off for the address in Palace Gardens Terrace which Lionel had given him. When he arrived there, he was informed that his lords.h.i.+p was not at home. He pressed his inquiries; he said his business was of the utmost importance; and at last he elicited, after considerable waiting, that, though no one in the house could say whither Lord Rockminster had gone, it was understood that he was dining at the Universities Club that evening. With this information Mangan returned to Piccadilly. He found the nurse already arrived and installed. He pacified Lionel with the news; for, if he went along to the Universities Club at half-past eight, he must surely be able to place the money in Lord Rockminster's own hands.

”Maurice, you're awfully kind,” his friend murmured. ”And you've had nothing to eat all day. Tell Mrs. Jenkins to get you something--”

”Oh, that's all right,” Mangan said, carelessly. ”I'll just scribble a line to Francie, to tell her what the doctors have said; and I'll take that down to the post myself. Then I'll get something to eat and come back here; and at half-past eight I'm going along to Pall Mall, where I'm certain to catch Lord Rockminster--so that it's all quite right and straight, you see.”

But, as it chanced, when he went along to the Universities that evening, he found he had missed his man--by only a minute or two. He was surprised and troubled; he knew how Lionel would fret. The hall-porter did not know whither Lord Rockminster had gone; that is to say, he almost certainly did know, but it was not his business to tell. Luckily, at this same moment, there was a young fellow leaving the club, and, as he was lighting his cigar, he heard Maurice's inquiries--and perhaps was rather struck by his appearance, which was certainly not that of a sheriff's officer.

”I think I can tell you where they have gone, sir,” said the young man, good-naturedly. ”Some of them had an early dinner to-night, to go up to the billiard handicap at the Palm-Tree; I fancy Lord Rockminster was of the party, and that you will find him there.”

This information proved correct. Mangan went up to the Palm-Tree Club in St. James Street and sent in his card. Almost directly he was invited to step up-stairs to the billiard-room. Just as he entered the door, he saw Lord Rockminster leave the raised bench where he had been seated by the side of a very artificial-looking palm-tree stem, and the next moment the two men were face to face.

”How do you do, Mr. Mangan?” Lord Rockminster said, in his usual impa.s.sive way. ”You remember I had the pleasure of meeting you at my sister's. What is the matter with your friend Mr. Moore?--I see by the evening paper he is not to appear to-night.”

”He is far from well--a chill followed by a fever,” Mangan answered. ”I have just come from him, with a message for you.”

”Oh, really,” said the young n.o.bleman. ”Ah, I dare say I know; but I a.s.sure you it is quite unnecessary. Tell him not to mind. When a fellow's ill, why should he be troubled?”

Maurice had taken out his pocket-book, and was searching for the lilac slip.

”But here is the check, Lord Rockminster; and nothing would do him but that I must give it into your own hands.”

”Oh, really.”

Lord Rockminster took the check, and happened to glance at it.

”Ah, I see this is drawn out by yourself, Mr. Mangan,” he said. ”I presume--eh--that you have lent Mr. Moore the money?”

Maurice hesitated, but there was no prevarication handy.

”If you ask the question, it is so. However, I suppose it is all the same.”

”All the same?--yes,” Lord Rockminster said, slowly; ”with only this difference, that before he owed me the money, and now he owes it to you.

I don't see any necessity for that arrangement. I haven't asked him for it; I sha'n't ask him for it until he is quite ready and able to pay; why, therefore, should he borrow from you? Take back your check, Mr.

Mangan; I understand what you were willing to do for your friend; I a.s.sure you it is quite uncalled for.”

But Maurice refused. He explained all the circ.u.mstances of the case--Lionel's feverish condition, his fretting about the debt, the necessity for keeping his mind pacified, and so on; and at last Lord Rockminster said,

”Very well; you can tell him you have given me the check. At the same time you can't compel me to pay it into my bankers'; and I don't see why I should take three hundred pounds of your money when you don't owe me any. When Mr. Moore gets perfectly well again, you can tell him he still owes me three hundred pounds--and he can take his own time about paying it.” And with that Maurice took his leave, Lord Rockminster going down the stair with him and out to the hall-door, where he bade him good-bye.

When he returned to Piccadilly, he said to the nurse,

”I suppose you can sleep at a moment's notice?”

”Pretty well, sir,” she answered, with a demure professional smile.

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