Page:A Gentleman's Gentleman.djvu/70

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He saw it now, and his face went white as a sheet.

"Then," said he, "you think that he'll get to know we are here?"

"That depends upon what my telegram said. Better to have sleeping dogs lie, sir. We might have lived here a month just as snug and safe as aboard your own yacht. And it was any odds you'd have got through without talk—leastwise until the wedding was done."

He heard me testily, beginning to dress himself anyhow, just as he always did when trouble was at our heels.

"Well," said he, after some time, "that may be all true, and he may come here; but what then, Hildebrand, what then?"

"Ah! that's for you to say, sir. It seems to me that we shall want a change of air again. He is not a merciful man, is Lord Heresford—and this isn't the first time he's bundled us out neck and crop, as you know well."

"As I know well—confound him! But what if I wouldn't go? what if I snapped my fingers in his face? You can't forget the wedding's for Saturday, and this is Wednesday night. Is it in two days that he's to confirm his word? Bedad! I've the best of him any way, bring what tale he may."

"Sir," said I, now quite angry with him, "that's child's talk. Do you forget Margaret King so soon? You may, but he's a longer memory."

He sat down on the bed again, but he looked for