Part 24 (1/2)
After dinner they had some music; Lord Roehampton would not play whist.
He insisted on comparing the voices of his companions with that of the nightingales of the morning. He talked a great deal to Adriana, and Colonel Albert, in the course of the evening much to Myra, and about her brother. Lord Roehampton more than once had wished to tell her, as he had already told Miss Neuchatel, how delightful had been their morning; but on every occasion he had found her engaged with the colonel.
”I rather like your prince,” he had observed to Mr. Neuchatel, as they came from the dining-room. ”He never speaks without thinking; very reserved, I apprehend. They say, an inveterate conspirator.”
”He has had enough of that,” said Mr. Neuchatel. ”I believe he wants to be quiet.”
”That cla.s.s of man is never quiet,” said Lord Roehampton.
”But what can he do?” said Mr. Neuchatel.
”What can he not do? Half Europe is in a state of chronic conspiracy.”
”You must keep us right, my dear lord. So long as you are in Downing Street I shall sleep at nights.”
”Miss Ferrars,” said Lord Roehampton abruptly to Mr. Neuchatel, ”must have been the daughter of William Ferrars, one of my great friends in old days. I never knew it till to-day, and she did not tell me, but it flashed across me from something she said.”
”Yes, she is his daughter, and is in mourning for him at this moment.
She has had sorrows,” said Mr. Neuchatel. ”I hope they have ceased. It was one of the happiest days of my life when she entered this family.”
”Ah!” said Lord Roehampton.
The next day, after they had examined the famous stud and stables, there was a riding party, and in the evening Colonel Albert offered to perform some American conjuring tricks, of which he had been speaking in the course of the day. This was a most wonderful performance, and surprised and highly amused everybody. Colonel Albert was the last person who they expected would achieve such marvels; he was so quiet, not to say grave.
They could hardly credit that he was the same person as he poured floods of flowers over Myra from her own borrowed pocket-handkerchief, and without the slightest effort or embarra.s.sment, robbed Lord Roehampton of his watch, and deposited it in Adriana's bosom. It was evident that he was a complete master of slight-of-hand.
”Characteristic!” murmured Lord Roehampton to himself.
It was the day after this, that Myra being in the music room and alone, Lord Roehampton opened the door, looked in, and then said, ”Where is Miss Neuchatel?”
”I think she is on the terrace.”
”Let us try to find her, and have one of our pleasant strolls. I sadly want one, for I have been working very hard all this morning, and half the night.”
”I will be with you, Lord Roehampton, in a moment.”
”Do not let us have anybody else,” he said, as she left the room.
They were soon on the terrace, but Adriana was not there.
”We must find her,” said Lord Roehampton; ”you know her haunts. Ah! what a delight it is to be in this air and this scene after those dreadful boxes! I wish they would turn us out. I think they must soon.”
”Now for the first time,” said Myra, ”Lord Roehampton is not sincere.”
”Then you think me always sincere?” he replied.
”I have no reason to think you otherwise.”
”That is very true,” said Lord Roehampton, ”truer perhaps than you imagine.” Then rather abruptly he said, ”You know Colonel Albert very well?”