HOW MR. DALROYD MADE A PLAN AND LOCKED HIS DOOR

Mr. Dalroyd kicked the obsequious Joseph soundly and cursed him soft-voiced but with a pa.s.sionate fervour; yet such violence being apt to disarrange one's dress and to heat and distort one's features, Mr.

Dalroyd reluctantly checked the ebullition and seating himself before the mirror surveyed his handsome face a little anxiously and with glance quick to heed certain faint lines that would occasionally obtrude themselves in the region of eye and mouth.

"Positively, I'm flushed!" he panted, "and for that alone I'd kick you downstairs, my poor worm, were it not that 'twould disorder me d.a.m.nably. As 'tis I'll restore you to the hangman for the rogue you are!"

"Sir," said Joseph, bowing obsequious back and keeping his eyes humbly abased, "you ask a thing impossible----"

"Ask, animal? I never ask, I command!"

"But indeed--indeed sir I cannot even though I would----"

"Think again, Joseph, and mark this, Joseph, I saved you from the gallows because I thought you might be useful, very good! Now the instant you cease to be of use I give you back and you hang--so think again, Joseph."

"Lord--Lord help me!" exclaimed Joseph, writhing and wringing his hands but keeping his eyes always lowered. "Sir, 'tis impossible, 'tis----"

"In your predatory days, Joseph, you were of course well acquainted with other debased creatures like yourself, very good! You will proceed forthwith to get together three or four such--three or four should suffice. You will convene them secretly hereabouts. You will form your plans and next Sat.u.r.day you will escort my lady Carlyon to a coach I shall have in waiting at the cross-roads."

"Abduct her, sir?"

"Precisely, Joseph! You and your--ah--a.s.sistants will bear her to the coach----"

"By force, sir?"

"Force! Hum, 'tis an ugly word! Say rather by gentle suasion, Joseph, but as silently as may be--there must be no wails or shrieking----"

"You mean choke her quiet, sir?" enquired Joseph gently, his eyelids drooping more humbly than ever.

Mr. Dalroyd turned from his toilet and smiled, "Joseph," said he softly, "if I find so much as a bruise or a scratch on her loveliness I'll break every bone in your rogue's carca.s.s. So, as I say, you will see her conveyed silently into the coach, you will mount the rumble with your weapons ready in case of pursuit and upon arrival at our--destination I disburse to you certain monies and give you--quittance of my service."

"Abduction is a capital offence, sir."

"Egad, I believe it is. But you have run such chances ere now----"

"True sir. There was your uncle, since dead----"

"Ha!" exclaimed Mr. Dalroyd and, soft though his voice was, Joseph blenched and cowered.

"I--I've served you faithfully hitherto, sir!" said he hastily.

"And will again, grub!" nodded Mr. Dalroyd. "You will take two days'

leave to make your necessary arrangements and on second thoughts I will give you two hundred guineas; one half as earnest-money you shall take with you in the morning--now go. I'll dispense with your services to-night. Begone, object! You shall have the money and further instructions in the morning."

Joseph took a hesitating step towards the door, paused and came back.

"Sir, how if--our scheme fail?"

"The--scheme will not fail."

"Sir, how if I make off with the money?"

"Why then, Joseph, there is your bedridden mother you have so great a weakness for--she cannot abscond."

Here Joseph raised his eyes at last and Mr. Dalroyd happening at that moment to glance into the mirror saw murder glaring at him, instantly Joseph's gaze abased itself, yet a fraction too late, Mr. Dalroyd's hand shot out and catching up a heavy toilet-bottle he whirled about and felled Joseph to his knees.

"Ha!" he exclaimed softly, staring down at the fallen man who crouched with b.l.o.o.d.y face hidden in his hands, "I've met and mastered your like ere this! Out, vermin--come out!"

And stooping, he seized the cowering form in strong, merciless hands, dragged him across the floor and kicked him from the room. Then, having closed the door Mr. Dalroyd surveyed himself in the mirror again, examined eye and mouth with frowning solicitude and proceeded to undress. Being ready for bed, he took up the candle, then stood with head bent in the att.i.tude of one in thought or like one who hearkens for distant sounds, set down the candle and opening a drawer took out a silver-mounted pistol and glanced heedfully at flint and priming; with this in his hand he crossed the room and slipping the weapon under his pillow, got into bed and blew out the candle. But, in the act of composing himself to sleep, he started up suddenly, and sat again in the att.i.tude of one who listens; then very stealthily, he got out of bed and crossing to the door felt about in the dark and silently shot the bolt.

CHAPTER x.x.xV

HOW THE SERGEANT TOOK WARNING OF A WITCH

Sergeant Zebedee having pinked the Viscount in every vital part of his aristocratic anatomy, lowered his foil, shook his head and sighed while the Viscount panted rueful.

"You reached me seven times I think, that bout, Zeb?"

"Eight, sir!"

"Ha, the dooce! How d'ye do it?"

"'Tis your own self, m' lud. How can I help but pink you when you play your parades so open and inviting?"

"Hm!" said the Viscount, frowning.

"And then too, you're so slow in your recoveries, Master Pancras--Tom, sir!"

"Anything more, Zeb?"

"Aye, m' lud. Your hand on your p'int's for ever out o' the line and your finger-play----" The Sergeant shook his head again.

"Devil burn it, Zeb! I begin to think I don't sound over-promising.

And yet--Gad love me, Sergeant, but you've no form, no style, y' know, pasitively none! In the schools they'd laugh at your play and call it mighty unmannerly."

"Belike they would, sir. But 'tis the schools as is the matter wi' you and so many other modish gentlemen, same be all froth and flourish.

But flourishes though taking to the eye, is slow m' lud, slow."

"Nay, I've seen some excellent fencing in the schools, Zeb, such poise o' bady, such grace----"

"Grace is very well, m' lud--in a school. But 'tis one thing to play a veney wi' blunted weapons and another to fight wi' the sharps."

"True, Zeb, though La Touche teacheth in his book----"

"Book!" exclaimed the Sergeant and snorted.