ain in imagination, heard Lord
Fallowfeild's blundering speech.--"Remember our luncheon to-day. It was
flattering, at moments, wasn't it? And so if I do queer things, things
off the conventional lines, who will be surprised? No one, I tell you,
not even the most strait-laced or censorious. Allow me at least the
privileges of my disabilities. I am a dwarf--a cripple. I shall never
be otherwise. Had I lived a century or two ago I should have made sport
for you, and such as you, as some rich man's professional fool. And so,
if I overstep the usual limits, who will comment on that? Queer things,
crazy things, are in the part. What do I matter?"

Richard laughed aloud.

"At least I have this advantage, that in my case you can do what you
can do in the case of no other man. With me you needn't be afraid. No
one will think evil. With me--yes, after all, there is a drop of
comfort in it--with me, Helen, you're safe enough."

CHAPTER X

MR. LUDOVIC QUAYLE AMONG THE PROPHETS

That same luncheon party at Brockhurst, if not notably satisfactory to
the hosts, afforded much subsequent food for meditation to one at least
of the guests. During the evening immediately following it, and even in
the watches of the night, Lady Louisa Barking's thought was
persistently engaged with the subject of Richard Calmady, his looks,
his character, his temper, his rent-roll, the acreage of his estates,
and his prospects generally. Nor did her interest remain hidden and
inarticulate. For, finding that in various particulars her knowledge
was superficial and clearly insufficient, on her journey from
Westchurch up to town next day, in company with her brother Ludovic,
she put so many questions to that accomplished young gentleman that he
shortly divined some serious purpose in her inquiry.

"We all recognise, my dear Louisa," he remarked presently, laying aside
the day's Times, of which he had vainly essayed the study, with an air
of gentle resignation, crossing his long legs and leaning back in his
corner of the railway carriage, "that you are the possessor of an
eminently practical mind. You have run the family for some years now,
not without numerous successes, among which may be reckoned your
running of yourself into the arms--if you will pardon my mentioning
them--of my estimable brother-in-law, Barking."

"Really, Ludovic!" his sister protested.

"Let me entreat you not to turn restive, Louisa," Mr. Quayle rejoined
with the utmos