the patrician-第6章

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mixing　in　a　by…election　in　the　cause　of　Peace；　was　not　so
inconsistent　as　might　be　supposed；　for　he　had　always　fought　on　the
losing　side；　and　there　seemed　to　him　at　the　moment　no　side　so　losing
as　that　of　Peace。　　No　great　politician；　he　was　not　an　orator；　nor
even　a　glib　talker；　yet　a　quiet　mordancy　of　tongue；　and　the　white…hot
look　in　his　eyes；　never　failed　to　make　an　impression　of　some　kind　on
an　audience。

There　was；　however；　hardly　a　corner　of　England　where　orations　on
behalf　of　Peace　had　a　poorer　chance　than　the　Bucklandbury　division。
To　say　that　Courtier　had　made　himself　unpopular　with　its　matter…of…
fact；　independent；　stolid；　yet　quick…tempered　population；　would　be
inadequate。　　He　had　outraged　their　beliefs；　and　roused　the　most
profound　suspicions。　　They　could　not；　for　the　life　of　them；　make　out
what　he　was　at。　　Though　by　his　adventures　and　his　book；　〃Peace…a　lost
Cause；〃　he　was；　in　London；　a　conspicuous　figure；　they　had　naturally
never　heard　of　him；　and　his　adventure　to　these　parts　seemed　to　them
an　almost　ludicrous　example　of　pure　idea　poking　its　nose　into　plain
factsthe　idea　that　nations　ought　to；　and　could　live　in　peace　being
so　very　pure；　and　the　fact　that　they　never　had；　so　very　plain！

At　Monkland；　which　was　all　Court　estate；　there　were　naturally　but　few
supporters　of　Miltoun's　opponent；　Mr。　Humphrey　Chilcox；　and　the
reception　accorded　to　the　champion　of　Peace　soon　passed　from
curiosity　to　derision；　from　derision　to　menace；　till　Courtier's
attitude　became　so　defiant；　and　his　sentences　so　heated　that　he　was
only　saved　from　a　rough　handling　by　the　influential　interposition　of
the　vicar。

Yet　when　he　began　to　address　them　he　had　felt　irresistibly　attracted。
They　looked　such　capital；　independent　fellows。　　Waiting　for　his　turn
to　speak；　he　had　marked　them　down　as　men　after　his　own　heart。　　For
though　　Courtier　knew　that　against　an　unpopular　idea　there　must
always　be　a　majority；　he　never　thought　so　ill　of　any　individual　as　to
suppose　him　capable　of　belonging　to　that　ill…omened　body。

Surely　these　fine；　independent　fellows　were　not　to　be　hoodwinked　by
the　jingoes！　　It　had　been　one　more　disillusion。　　He　had　not　taken　it
lying　down；　neither　had　his　audience。　　They　dispersed　without
forgiving；　they　came　together　again　without　having　forgotten。

The　village　Inn；　a　little　white　building　whose　small　windows　were
overgrown　with　creepers；　had　a　single　guest's　bedroom　on　the　upper
floor；　and　a　little　sitting…room　where　Courtier　took　his　meals。　　The
rest　of　the　house　was　but　stone…floored　bar　with　a　long　wooden　bench
against　the　back　wall；　whence　nightly　a　stream　of　talk　would　issue；
all　harsh　a's；　and　sudden　soft　u's；　whence　too　a　figure；　a　little
unsteady；　would　now　and　again　emerge；　to　a　chorus　of　'Gude　naights；'
stand　still　under　the　ash…trees　to　light　his　pipe；　then　move　slowly
home。

But　on　that　evening；　when　the　trees；　like　cattle；　stood　knee…deep　in
the　moon…dust；　those　who　came　out　from　the　bar…room　did　not　go　away；
they　hung　about　in　the　shadows；　and　were　joined　by　other　figures
creeping　furtively　through　the　bright　moonlight；　from　behind　the　Inn。
Presently　more　figures　moved　up　from　the　lanes　and　the　churchyard
path；　till　thirty　or　more　were　huddled　there；　and　their　stealthy
murmur　of　talk　distilled　a　rare　savour　of　illicit　joy。　　Unholy
hilarity；　indeed；　seemed　lurking　in　the　deep　tree…shadow；　before　the
wan　Inn；　whence　from　a　single　lighted　window　came　forth　the　half…
chanting　sound　of　a　man's　voice　reading　out　loud。　　Laughter　was
smothered；　talk　whispered。

〃He'm　a…practisin'　his　spaches。〃　　〃Smoke　the　cunnin'　old　vox　out！〃
〃Red　pepper's　the　proper　stuff。〃　　〃See　men　sneeze！　　We've　a…screed　up
the　door。〃

Then；　as　a　face　showed　at　the　lighted　window；　a　burst　of　harsh
laughter　broke　the　hush。

He　at　the　window　was　seen　struggling　violently　to　wrench　away　a　bar。
The　laughter　swelled　to　hooting。　　The　prisoner　forced　his　way
through；　dropped　to　the　ground；　rose；　staggered；　and　fell。

A　voice　said　sharply：

〃What's　this？〃

Out　of　the　sounds　of　scuffling　and　scattering　came　the　whisper：　〃His
lordship！〃　　And　the　shade　under　the　ash…trees　became　deserted；　save
by　the　tall　dark　figure　of　a　man；　and　a　woman's　white　shape。

〃Is　that　you；　Mr。　Courtier？　　Are　you　hurt？〃

A　chuckle　rose　from　the　recumbent　figure。

〃Only　my　knee。　　The　beggars！　　They　precious　nearly　choked　me；
though。〃




CHAPTER　VII

Bertie　Caradoc；　leaving　the　smoking…room　at　Monkland　Court　that　same
evening；on　his　way　to　bed；　went　to　the　Georgian　corridor；　where　his
pet　barometer　was　hanging。　　To　look　at　the　glass　had　become　the
nightly　habit　of　one　who　gave　all　the　time　he　could　spare　from　his
profession　to　hunting　in　the　winter　and　to　racing　in　the　summer。'

The　Hon。　Hubert　Caradoc；　an　apprentice　to　the　calling　of　diplomacy；
more　completely　than　any　living　Caradoc　embodied　the　characteristic
strength　and　weaknesses　of　that　family。　　He　was　of　fair　height；　and
wiry　build。　　His　weathered　face；　under　sleek；　dark　hair；　had　regular；
rather　small　features；　and　wore　an　expression　of　alert　resolution；
masked　by　impassivity。　　Over　his　inquiring；　hazel…grey　eyes　the　lids
were　almost　religiously　kept　half　drawn。　　He　had　been　born　reticent；
and　great；　indeed；　was　the　emotion　under　which　he　suffered　when　the
whole　of　his　eyes　were　visible。　　His　nose　was　finely　chiselled；　and
had　little　flesh。　　His　lips；　covered　by　a　small；　dark　moustache；
scarcely　opened　to　emit　his　speeches；　which　were　uttered　in　a　voice
singularly　muffled；　yet　unexpectedly　quick。　　The　whole　personality
was　that　of　a　man　practical；　spirited；　guarded；　resourceful；　with
great　power　of　self…control；　who　looked　at　life　as　if　she　were　a
horse　under　him；　to　whom　he　must　give　way　just　so　far　as　was
necessary　to　keep　mastery　of　her。　　A　man　to　whom　ideas　were　of　no
value；　except　when　wedded　to　immediate　action；　essentially　neat；
demanding　to　be　'done　well；'　but　capable　of　stoicism　if　necessary；
urbane；　yet　always　in　readiness　to　thrust；　able　only　to　condone　the
failings　and　to　compassionate　the　kinds　of　distress　which　his　own
experience　had　taught　him　to　understand。　　Such　was　Miltoun's　younger
brother　at　the　age　of　twenty…six。

Having　noted　that　the　glass　was　steady；　he　was　about　to　seek　the
stairway；　when　he　saw　at　the　farther　end　of　the　entrance…hall　three
figures　advancing　arm…in…arm。　　Habitually　both　curious　and　wary；　he
waited　till　they　came　within　the　radius　of　a　lamp；　then；　seeing　them
to　be　those　of　Miltoun　and　a　footman；　supporting　between　them　a　lame
man；　he　at　once　hastened　forward。

〃Have　you　put　your　knee　out；　sir？　　Hold　on　a　minute！　　Get　a　chair；
Charles。〃

Seating　the　stranger　in　this　chair；　Bertie　rolled　up　the　trouser；　and
passed　his　fingers　round　the　knee。　　There　was　a　sort；　of　loving…
kindness　in　that　movement；　as　of　a　hand　which　had　in　its　time　felt
the　joints　and　sinews　of　innumerable　horses。

〃H'm！〃he　said；　〃can　you　stand　a　bit　of　a　jerk？　　Catch　hold　of　him
behind；　Eustace。　　Sit　down　on　the　floor；　Charles；　and　hold　the　legs
of　the　chair。　　Now　then！〃　And　taking　up　the　foot；　he　pulled。　　There
was　a　click；　a　little　noise　of　teeth　ground　together；　and　Bertie
said：　〃Good　manshan't　have　to　have　the　vet。　to　you；　this　time。〃

Having　conducted　their　lame　guest　to　a　room　in　the　Georgian　corridor
hastily　converted　to　a　bedroom；　the　two　brothers　presently　left　him
to　the　attentions　of　the　footman。

〃Well；　old　man；〃　said　Bertie；　as　they　sought　their　rooms；　〃that's　put
paid　to　his　namewon't　do　you　any　more　harm　this　journey。　　Good
plucked　one；　though！〃

The　report　that　Courtier　was　harboured　beneath　their　roof　went　the
round　of　the　family　before　breakfast；　through　the　agency　of　one　whose
practice　it　was　to　know　all　things；　and　to　see　that　others　partook　of
that　knowledge；　Little　Ann；　paying　her　customary　morning　visit　to　her
mother's　room；　took　her　stand　with　face　turned　up　and　hands　clasping
her　belt；　and　began　at　once。

〃Uncle　Eustace　brought　a　man　last　night　with　a　wounded　leg；　and　Uncle
Bertie　pulled　it　out　straight。　　William　says　that　Charles　says　he
only　made　a　noise　like　this〃there　was　a　faint　sound　of　small
chumping　teeth：　〃And　he's　the　man　that's　staying　at　the　Inn；　and　the
stairs　were　too　narrow　to　carry　him　up；　William　says；　and　if　his　knee
was　put　out　he　won't　be　able　to　walk　without　a　stick　for　a　long　time。
Can　I　go　to　Father？〃

Agatha；　who　was　having　her　hair　brushed；　thought：

〃I'm　not　sure　whether　belts　so　low　as　that　are　wholesome；〃　murmured：

〃Wait　a　minute！〃

But　little　Ann　was　gone；　and　her　voice　could　be　heard　in　the
dressing…room　climbing　up　towards　Sir　William；　who　from　the　sound　of
his　replies；　was　manifestly　shaving。　　When　Agatha；　who　never　could
resist　a　legitimate　opportunity　of　approaching　her　husband；　looked
in；　he　was　alone；　and　rather　thoughtfula　tall　man　with　a　solid；
steady　face　and　cautious　eyes；　not　in　truth　remarkable　except　to　his
own　wife。

〃That　fellow　Courtier's　caught　by　the　leg；〃　he　said。　　〃Don't　know
what　your　Mother　will　say　to　an　enemy　in　the　camp。〃

〃Isn't　he　a　freethinker；　and　rather〃

Sir　William；　following　his　own　thoughts；　interrupted：

〃Just　as　well；　of　course；　so　far　as　Miltoun's　concerned；　to　have　got
him　here。〃

Agatha　sighed：　〃Well；　I　suppose　we　shall　have　to　be　nice　to　him。
I'll　tell　Mother。〃

Sir　William　smiled。

〃Ann　will　see　to　that；〃　he　said。

Ann　was　seeing　to　that。

Seated　in　the　embrasure　of　the　window　behind　the　looking…glass；　where
Lady　Valleys　was　still　occupied；　she　was　saying：

〃He　fell　out　of　the　window　because　of　the　red　pepper。　　Miss　Wallace
says　he　is　a　hostagewhat　does　hostage　mean；　Granny？〃

When　six　years　ago　that　word　had　first　fallen　on　Lady　Valleys'　ears；
she　had　thought：　〃Oh！　dear！　　Am　I　really　Granny？　　〃It　had　been　a
shock；　had　seemed　the　end　of　so　much；　but　the　matter…of…fact　heroism
of　women；　so　much　quicker　to　accept　the　inevitable　than　men；　had　soon
come　to　her　aid；　and　now；　unlike　her　husband；　she　did　not　care　a　bit。
For　all　that　she　answered　nothing；　partly　because　it　was　not
necessary　to　speak　in　order　to　sustain　a　conversation　with　little
Ann；　and　partly　because　she　was　deep　in　thought。

The　man　was　injured！　　Hospitality；　of　courseespecially　since　their
own　tenants　had　committed　the　outrage！　　Still；　to　welcome　a　man　who
had　gone　out　of　his　way　to　come　down　here　and　stump　the　country
against　her　own　son；　was　rather　a　tall　order。　　It　might　have　been
worse；　no　doubt。　　If；　for　instance；　he　had　been　some　'impossible'
Nonconformist　Radical！　　This　Mr。　Courtier　was　a　free　lancerather　a
well…known　man；　an　interesting　creature。　　She　must　see　that　he　felt
'at　home'　and　comfortable。　　If　he　were　pumped　judiciously；　no　doubt
one　could　find　out　about　this　woman。　　Moreover；　the　acceptance　of
their　'salt'　would　silence　him　politically　if　she　knew　anything　of
that　type　of　man；　who　always　had　something　in　him　of　the　Arab's
creed。　　Her　mind；　that　of　a　capable　administrator；　took　in　all　the
practical　significance　of　this　incident；　which；　although　untoward；
was　not　without　its　comic　side　to　one　disposed　to　find　zest　and
humour　in　everything　that　did　not　absolutely　run　counter　to　her
interests　and　philosophy。

The　voice　of　little　Ann　broke