Part 46 (1/2)

”I am not aware that he is dissipated.”

”What!”

”I say that I am not aware that Gerald requires any interference from me--or from you, either,” said Neergard coolly. ”And as far as that goes, I and my business require no interference either. And I believe that settles it.”

He touched a b.u.t.ton; the man-servant appeared to usher Selwyn out.

The latter set his teeth in his under lip and looked straight and hard at Neergard, but Neergard thrust both hands in his pockets, turned squarely on his heel, and sauntered out of the room, yawning as he went.

It bid fair to become a hard day for Selwyn; he foresaw it, for there was more for him to do, and the day was far from ended, and his self-restraint was nearly exhausted!

An hour later he sent his card in to Rosamund Fane; and Rosamund came down, presently, mystified, flattered, yet shrewdly alert and prepared for anything since the miracle of his coming justified such preparation.

”Why in the world,” she said with a flushed gaiety perfectly genuine, ”did you ever come to see _me_? Will you please sit here, rather near me?--or I shall not dare believe that you are that same Captain Selwyn who once was so deliciously rude to me at the Minster's dance.”

”Was there not a little malice--just a very little--on your part to begin it?” he asked, smiling.

”Malice? Why? Just because I wanted to see how you and Alixe Ruthven would behave when thrust into each other's arms? Oh, Captain Selwyn--what a harmless little jest of mine to evoke all that bitterness you so smilingly poured out on me! ... But I forgave you; I'll forgive you more than that--if you ask me. Do you know”--and she laid her small head on one side and smiled at him out of her pretty doll's eyes--”do you know that there are very few things I might not be persuaded to pardon you? Perhaps”--with laughing audacity--”there are not any at all.

Try, if you please.”

”Then you surely will forgive me for what I have come to ask you,” he said lightly. ”Won't you?”

”Yes,” she said, her pink-and-white prettiness challenging him from every delicate feature--”yes--I will pardon you--on one condition.”

”And what is that, Mrs. Fane?”

”That you are going to ask me something quite unpardonable!” she said with a daring little laugh. ”For if it's anything less improper than an impropriety I won't forgive you. Besides, there'd be nothing to forgive.

So please begin, Captain Selwyn.”

”It's only this,” he said: ”I am wondering whether you would do anything for me?”

”_Any_thing! _Merci_! Isn't that extremely general, Captain Selwyn? But you never can tell; ask me.”

So he bent forward, his clasped hands between his knees, and told her very earnestly of his fears about Gerald, asking her to use her undoubted influence with the boy to shame him from the card-tables, explaining how utterly disastrous to him and his family his present course was.

”He is very fond of you, Mrs. Fane--and you know how easy it is for a boy to be laughed out of excesses by a pretty woman of experience. You see I am desperately put to it or I would never have ventured to trouble you--”

”I see,” she said, looking at him out of eyes bright with disappointment.

”Could you help us, then?” he asked pleasantly.

”Help _us_, Captain Selwyn? Who is the 'us,' please?”

”Why, Gerald and me--and his family,” he added, meeting her eyes. The eyes began to dance with malice.

”His family,” repeated Rosamund; ”that is to say, his sister, Miss Erroll. His family, I believe, ends there; does it not?”

”Yes, Mrs. Fane.”

”I see... . Miss Erroll is naturally worried over him. But I wonder why she did not come to me herself instead of sending you as her errant amba.s.sador?”