Part 43 (1/2)

Astonishment showed in Lord Belpher's round face. Just as it was about to be succeeded by indignation, the butler spoke again.

”I am aware, your lords.h.i.+p, that it is not my place to offer suggestions as to the private and intimate affairs of the family I 'ave the honour to serve, but, if your lords.h.i.+p would consent to overlook the liberty, I think I could be of 'elp and a.s.sistance in a matter which is causing annoyance and unpleasantness to all.”

He invigorated himself with another dip into the waters of memory.

Yes. The young man before him might be Lord Belpher, son of his employer and heir to all these great estates, but once he had seen him spanked.

Perhaps Percy also remembered this. Perhaps he merely felt that Keggs was a faithful old servant and, as such, ent.i.tled to thrust himself into the family affairs. Whatever his reasons, he now definitely lowered the barrier.

”Well,” he said, with a glance at the door to make sure that there were no witnesses to an act of which the aristocrat in him disapproved, ”go on!”

Keggs breathed freely. The danger-point was past.

”'Aving a natural interest, your lords.h.i.+p,” he said, ”we of the Servants' 'All generally manage to become respectfully aware of whatever 'appens to be transpirin' above stairs. May I say that I became acquainted at an early stage with the trouble which your lords.h.i.+p is unfortunately 'aving with a certain party?”

Lord Belpher, although his whole being revolted against what practically amounted to hobn.o.bbing with a butler, perceived that he had committed himself to the discussion. It revolted him to think that these delicate family secrets were the subject of conversation in menial circles, but it was too late to do anything now. And such was the whole-heartedness with which he had declared war upon George Bevan that, at this stage in the proceedings, his chief emotion was a hope that Keggs might have something sensible to suggest.

”I think, begging your lords.h.i.+p's pardon for making the remark, that you are acting injudicious. I 'ave been in service a great number of years, startin' as steward's room boy and rising to my present position, and I may say I 'ave 'ad experience during those years of several cases where the daughter or son of the 'ouse contemplated a misalliance, and all but one of the cases ended disastrously, your lords.h.i.+p, on account of the family trying opposition. It is my experience that opposition in matters of the 'eart is useless, feedin', as it, so to speak, does the flame.

Young people, your lords.h.i.+p, if I may be pardoned for employing the expression in the present case, are naturally romantic and if you keep 'em away from a thing they sit and pity themselves and want it all the more. And in the end you may be sure they get it. There's no way of stoppin' them. I was not on sufficiently easy terms with the late Lord Worlingham to give 'im the benefit of my experience on the occasion when the Honourable Aubrey Persh.o.r.e fell in love with the young person at the Gaiety Theatre. Otherwise I could 'ave told 'im he was not acting judicious. His lords.h.i.+p opposed the match in every way, and the young couple ran off and got married at a registrar's. It was the same when a young man who was tutor to 'er ladys.h.i.+p's brother attracted Lady Evelyn Walls, the only daughter of the Earl of Ackleton. In fact, your lords.h.i.+p, the only entanglement of the kind that came to a satisfactory conclusion in the whole of my personal experience was the affair of Lady Catherine Duseby, Lord Bridgefield's daughter, who injudiciously became infatuated with a roller-skating instructor.”

Lord Belpher had ceased to feel distantly superior to his companion.

The butler's powerful personality hypnotized him. Long ere the harangue was ended, he was as a little child drinking in the utterances of a master. He bent forward eagerly. Keggs had broken off his remarks at the most interesting point.

”What happened?” inquired Percy.

”The young man,” proceeded Keggs, ”was a young man of considerable personal attractions, 'aving large brown eyes and a athletic lissome figure, brought about by roller-skating. It was no wonder, in the opinion of the Servants' 'All, that 'er ladys.h.i.+p should have found 'erself fascinated by him, particularly as I myself 'ad 'eard her observe at a full luncheon-table that roller-skating was in her opinion the only thing except her toy Pomeranian that made life worth living. But when she announced that she had become engaged to this young man, there was the greatest consternation. I was not, of course, privileged to be a partic.i.p.ant at the many councils and discussions that ensued and took place, but I was aware that such transpired with great frequency. Eventually 'is lords.h.i.+p took the shrewd step of a.s.suming acquiescence and inviting the young man to visit us in Scotland. And within ten days of his arrival, your lords.h.i.+p, the match was broken off. He went back to 'is roller-skating, and 'er ladys.h.i.+p took up visiting the poor and eventually contracted an altogether suitable alliance by marrying Lord Ronald Spofforth, the second son of his Grace the Duke of Gorbals and Strathbungo.”

”How did it happen?”

”Seein' the young man in the surroundings of 'er own 'ome, 'er ladys.h.i.+p soon began to see that she had taken too romantic a view of 'im previous, your lords.h.i.+p. 'E was one of the lower middle cla.s.s, what is sometimes termed the bourjoisy, and 'is 'abits were not the 'abits of the cla.s.s to which 'er ladys.h.i.+p belonged. 'E 'ad nothing in common with the rest of the 'ouse-party, and was injudicious in 'is choice of forks. The very first night at dinner 'e took a steel knife to the ontray, and I see 'er ladys.h.i.+p look at him very sharp, as much as to say that scales had fallen from 'er eyes. It didn't take 'er long after that to become convinced that 'er 'eart 'ad led 'er astray.”

”Then you think--?”

”It is not for me to presume to offer anything but the most respectful advice, your lords.h.i.+p, but I should most certainly advocate a similar procedure in the present instance.”

Lord Belpher reflected. Recent events had brought home to him the magnitude of the task he had a.s.sumed when he had appointed himself the watcher of his sister's movements. The affair of the curate and the village blacksmith had shaken him both physically and spiritually. His feet were still sore, and his confidence in himself had waned considerably. The thought of having to continue his espionage indefinitely was not a pleasant one. How much simpler and more effective it would be to adopt the suggestion which had been offered to him.

”--I'm not sure you aren't right, Keggs.”

”Thank you, your lords.h.i.+p. I feel convinced of it.”

”I will speak to my father tonight.”

”Very good, your lords.h.i.+p. I am glad to have been of service.”

”Young blighted Albert,” said Keggs crisply, shortly after breakfast on the following morning, ”you're to take this note to Mr. Bevan at the cottage down by Platt's farm, and you're to deliver it without playing any of your monkey-tricks, and you're to wait for an answer, and you're to bring that answer back to me, too, and to Lord Marshmoreton. And I may tell you, to save you the trouble of opening it with steam from the kitchen kettle, that I 'ave already done so. It's an invitation to dine with us tonight.

So now you know. Look slippy!”

Albert capitulated. For the first time in his life he felt humble.

He perceived how misguided he had been ever to suppose that he could pit his pigmy wits against this smooth-faced worker of wonders.