Part 16 (1/2)
”How do you mean? Is the charge unfounded?”
Sir Tristram drew his handkerchief across his brow.
”Supposing I did kiss her?”
”Supposing! Triggs? Good heavens! I remember your leading for a woman who brought exactly such a charge against a man. I remember how clearly you pointed out how, under certain circ.u.mstances, such an action might be, and was, an offence against good morals. Didn't Pick.u.m give the man six months?”
The lawyer's resemblance to a bulldog became more and more p.r.o.nounced.
He all but showed his teeth. ”I don't know, Duke, if you are enjoying a little amus.e.m.e.nt at my expense.”
The Duke sprang to his feet. His bearing evinced an accession of dignity which, in its melodramatic suddenness, almost approached to farce.
”It is not my habit, Sir Tristram, to regard my magisterial duties as offering much scope for amus.e.m.e.nt. Situated as I am--as you are--as we all are--our party!--in the eyes of the nation, it seems to me that this matter may easily become one of paramount importance. Of such importance that I have come to you as a friend to-night to ask you, if there is a chance of Miss Cullen's charge becoming so much as whispered abroad, to seriously consider if it would not be advisable for you to place your resignation in the hands of the Prime Minister before your appointment to the Chancellors.h.i.+p is publicly announced.”
Sir Tristram's jaw dropped open. His resemblance to a bulldog perceptibly decreased.
”Duke!”
”I am not certain, in coming to-night, that I have not allowed my friends.h.i.+p for you to carry me too far. Still, I have come.”
”Your Grace is more than sufficiently severe. If you will allow me to exactly explain my position in this matter I shall have no difficulty in making that evident. I fear that Miss Cullen is a dangerous young woman.”
The Duke shrugged his shoulders.
”You, of all men, ought to know that, under certain circ.u.mstances, women are dangerous--and even girls.”
”Precisely. That is so. But I think that after I have made my explanation you will allow that Miss Cullen is an even unusually dangerous example of a dangerous s.e.x.” He paused--perhaps for reflection. When he continued it was with a hang-dog air. ”Some short time since I did myself the honour of asking Miss Cullen to become my wife. I fear that--eh--circ.u.mstances induced me to take her answer too much for granted. So much so, indeed, that--eh--while I was waiting for her answer I--eh--I--eh--kissed her. I do not wish to lay stress upon the accident that the kiss was but the merest shadow of a kiss.
But such, in fact, it was.”
”In plain language, Triggs, you kissed her against her will.”
”I had no idea that it was against her will, or I should certainly not have done it. Her behaviour after--eh--my action filled me with the most profound amazement. She jumped up. She addressed me in language which I can only describe as more pointed than elegant. And--eh--she walked away, leaving me, I do a.s.sure your Grace, dumbfounded.”
”Well?”
The Duke's back was turned to Sir Tristram, possibly because there was something on his Grace's face which bore an amazing resemblance to a smile.
”Well, I heard nothing more of the matter. Indeed, I have heard and seen nothing of the lady till I met her here to-day. This evening she has alluded to the matter in a manner and in terms which filled me with even more profound amazement than her behaviour on the--eh--original occasion.”
”But, man, didn't you apologise?”
”I apologised in terms of almost abject humility. But that did not content her. I will be frank with your Grace. She made me a proposition which----”
The Duke waved his hands. He cut Sir Tristram short.
”I have heard too much already. Triggs, I have allowed my friends.h.i.+p for you to play havoc with my discretion; let me hear no more. My advice to you is compromise, compromise, at almost any cost. You don't want to have your career ruined by a girl, and for the mere shadow of a kiss. To consider nothing else, think of the laughter there would be. As you say, the young woman can be dangerous, and, if nothing happens to change her purpose, you may take my word for it that she means to be.”
Before Sir Tristram could reply the Duke was gone. The newly-appointed representative of the majesty of English law was left alone with his papers and his reflections. These latter did not seem to be pleasant ones. Words escaped his lips which we should not care to print--we fear they referred to that undutiful ward of his lords.h.i.+p's court.
Inwardly, and, for the matter of that, outwardly, he cursed her with bell, book, and candle; certainly never was heard a more terrible curse. And so thoroughly did he enter into the spirit of the thing that he was still engaged in cursing her when the door opened, and in front of him was Miss Cullen with the handle in her hand.