“I know of none other. At last!”
He emerged and tossed a heavy, many-caped coat on to the bed.
“Now, sir, your attention for one moment.”
He was buckling on his sword as he spoke, and not looking at the other man.
“Tracy will have borne Di—Miss Beauleigh off to Andover Court, seven miles beyond Wyncham, to the south-west. Your horse, I take it, is not fresh (he knew Mr. Beauleigh’s horse). “I have ordered the curricle for you. I will ride on at once by short cuts, for there is not a moment to be lost———”
“The Duke of Andover!” interrupted Mr. Beauleigh. “The Duke of Andover! Why, do you think he purposes to marry my daughter?”
Jack gave a short, furious laugh.
“Ay! As he married all the others!”
Mr. Beauleigh winced.
“Sir! Pray why should you say so?”
“I perceive you do not know his Grace. Perchance you have heard of Devil Belmanoir?”
Then the little man paled.
“Good God, Mr. Carr, ’tis not he?”
Carstares caught up his hat and whip.
“Ay, Mr. Beauleigh, ’tis indeed he. Now perhaps you appreciate the necessity for haste?”
Mr. Beauleigh’s eyes were open at last.
“For God’s sake, Mr. Carr, after them!”
“’Tis what I intend, sir. You will follow as swiftly as possible?”
“Yes, yes, but do not wait for anything! Can you reach Andover—in time?”
“I reach Andover to-night,” was the grim answer. “And you, sir? You know the road?”
“I will find out. Only go, Mr. Carr! Do not waste time, I implore you!”
Jack struggled into his riding coat, clapped his hat on to his head, and with his Grace of Andover’s sword tucked beneath his arm, went down the stairs three
