ttempts
to talk to him of France. His mind returned to the matter of the bridal
pair below.

"You told him that, eh?" said he. "And what said his lordship then?"

"He turned to the parson. 'The very man for us, Jenkins,' says he."

"And the parson--this Jenkins--what answer did he make?"

"'Excellently thought,' he says, grinning."

"Hum! And you yourself, mistress, what inference did you draw?"

"Inference, sir?"

"Aye, inference, ma'am. Did you not gather that this was not only
a runaway match, but a clandestine one? My lord can depend upon the
discretion of his servant, no doubt; for other witness he would prefer
some passer-by, some stranger who will go his ways to-morrow, and not be
like to be heard of again."

"Lard, sir!" cried the landlady, her eyes wide with astonishment.

Mr. Caryll smiled enigmatically. "'Tis so, I assure ye, ma'am. My Lord
Rotherby is of a family singularly cautious in the unions it contracts.
In entering matrimony he prefers, no doubt, to leave a back door open
for quiet retreat should he repent him later."

"Your honor has his lordship's acquaintance, then?" quoth the landlady.

"It is a misfortune from which Heaven has hitherto preserved me, but
which the devil, it seems, now thrusts upon me. It will, nevertheless,
interest me to see him at close quarters. Come, ma'am."

As they were going out, Mr. Caryll checked suddenly. "Why, what's
o'clock?" said he.

She stared, so abruptly came the question. "Past four, sir," she
answered.

He uttered a short laugh. "Decidedly," said he, "his lordship must be
viewed at closer quarters." And he led the way downstairs.

In the passage he waited for her to come up with him. "You had best
announce me by name," he suggested. "It is Caryll."

She nodded, and, going forward, threw open a door, inviting him to
enter.

"Mr. Caryll," she announced, obedient to his injunction, and as he went
in she closed the door behind him.

From the group of three that had been sitting about the polished walnut
table, the tall gentleman in buff and silver rose swiftly, and advanced
to the newcomer; what time Mr. Caryll made a rapid observation of this
brother whom he was meeting under circumstances so odd and by a chance
so peculiar.

He beheld a man of twenty-five, or perhaps a little more, tall and
well made, if already inclining to heaviness, with a swarthy face,
full-lipped, big-nosed, black-eyed, an obstinate chin, and a deplorable
brow. At sig