Part 32 (1/2)

”My name,” said Antony respectfully, ”is Michael Field.”

The d.u.c.h.essa gave a little shaky laugh.

”Well, Michael Field,” she said. ”I was not very kind that day I met you on the moorland.”

Antony kept his eyes fixed on his plate.

”There was no reason that you should be kind,” he replied quietly.

”There was,” flashed the d.u.c.h.essa.

”I think not,” replied Antony, calmly. ”Ladies in your position are under no obligation to be kind to servants, except to those of their own household. Even then, it is more or less of a condescension on their part.”

”You were not always a servant,” said the d.u.c.h.essa.

There was the fraction of a pause.

”I did not happen to be actually in a situation when I was on the _Fort Salisbury_, if that is what you mean, Madam,” returned Antony.

”I mean more than that,” retorted the d.u.c.h.essa. ”I mean that by your up-bringing you are not a servant.”

Antony laughed shortly.

”I happen to have had a better education than falls to the lot of most men who have been in the positions I have been in, and who are in positions like my present one. But most a.s.suredly I am a servant.”

”What positions have you been in?” demanded the d.u.c.h.essa.

A very faint smile showed itself on Antony's face.

”I have been a sort of miner's boy,” he replied slowly. ”I have been a farm hand, mainly used for cleaning out pigsties, and that kind of work.

I have been servant in a gambling saloon; odd man on a cattle boat. I have worked on a farm again. And now I am an under-gardener. Very a.s.suredly I have been, and am, a servant.”

The d.u.c.h.essa's brows wrinkled. ”Yet you speak like a gentleman, and--and you wore dress clothes as if you were used to them.”

Again a faint smile showed itself on Antony's face.

”I told you I happen to have had a decent education in my youth. Also, I would suggest, that even butlers and waiters wear dress clothes as if they were used to them.”

Once more there was a silence. A rather long silence this time. It was broken by the d.u.c.h.essa's voice.

”Some months ago,” she said, ”I offered my friends.h.i.+p to Antony Gray; I now offer that same friends.h.i.+p to Michael Field.”

Antony gave a little laugh. There was an odd gleam in his eyes.

”Michael Field regrets that he must decline the honour.”

The d.u.c.h.essa's face went dead white.