The Talisman Ring

He looked thoughtfully at Miss Thane. “Yes? Have I Miss Thane’s permission to call upon her in London?”

“Oh, but certainly! She will be delighted,” said Eustacie. “Du vrai, she would like very much to call upon you at the Dower House, because it is such a very old house, and that is with her a veritable passion. But I said, No, it would not be convenable.”

Miss Thane cast her a look of considerable respect, and tried to assume the expression of an eager archaeologist.

The Beau said politely: “I should be honoured by a visit from Miss Thane, but surely the Court would be better worth her study?”

“Yes, but you must know that I will not go to the Court with her,” said Eustacie glibly. “Tristram is very angry, and I do not wish that there should be any awkwardness.”

The Beau raised his brows. “Is Tristram importuning you to marry him?” he inquired.

Not having any exact knowledge of what Tristram had told him, Eustacie thought it prudent to return an evasive answer. She spread out her hands, and said darkly: “It is that he gave his word to Grandpиre, you know. I do not understand him.”

“Ah!” sighed the Beau, running his hand gently up and down the riband of his quizzing-glass. “You are, of course, an heiress.” He let that shaft sink in, and continued smoothly: “I have never been able to feel that you and Tristram were quite made for each other, but I confess your sudden flight took me by surprise. They tell me that your ride was fraught with adventure, too. Some tale of smugglers—but I dare say much exaggerated.”

“I suppose,” said Miss Thane opportunely, “that there is a great deal of smuggling done in these parts?”

“I believe so,” he responded. “I have always understood that my great-uncle encouraged the Trade.”

“Basil,” interrupted Eustacie, “is it permitted that I bring Miss Thane to the Dower House one morning, perhaps? I thought that you would be like Tristram, and try to make me go to Bath, but now I see that you are truly sympathique, and I do not at all mind coming with Sarah to call on you.”

He looked at her for a moment. “But, pray do!” he said. “Have I not said that I shall count myself honoured?”

Miss Thane, summoning up every recollection of historical houses she had visited during the course of her travels, at once engaged him in conversation. Luckily she had her foreign journeys to draw upon. This she did with great enthusiasm, and no lack of imagination. The Beau was diverted from the topic of smugglers, and although his knowledge of antiques was slight and his interest in them almost non-existent, he was too well-bred to attempt to change the subject. Miss Thane kept his attention engaged for the remaining twenty minutes of his visit, and when he got up to go, thanked him profusely for his permission to visit the Dower House, and promised herself the treat of exploring his premises on the first fine day that offered. Eustacie thoughtfully reminded her that she would like to bring her sketching-book, to which she assented, as one in honour bound.

The Beau bowed himself out, was shepherded to his chaise by the mistrustful Nye, and drove off, watched from behind the parlour blinds by his gleeful cousin.

Miss Thane sank into a chair, and said: “Eustacie, you are a wretch!”

“But no, but no!” Eustacie cried, dancing in triumph. “You did it so very well!”

“I am not at all sure that I convinced him. My dear, I know nothing of pictures, or wood panelling! If he had not taken his leave of us when he did, my tongue must have run dry. I am convinced he thought me a chattering fool.”

“It does not matter in the least. We shall go to the Dower House, and while I talk to Basil you will find the secret panel and steal the ring!”

“Oh,” said Miss Thane blinking. “Just—just find the panel and steal the ring. Yes, I see. I dare say it will be quite easy.”

“Certainly it will be easy, because I have thought of a very good plan, which is to pretend to Basil that I do not at all know what to do. I shall say to him that I have no one to advise me, and I am afraid of Tristram, and you will go away to draw a picture and you will see that he will be very glad to let you. Come, we must immediately tell Ludovic what we have done!”

Ludovic, when the scheme was breathlessly divulged to him, at first objected to it on the score that he had thought of a better plan. Once the coast was clear, he said, Abel Bundy would be bound to work his way up to the Red Lion to deliver his kegs of brandy, and to try to get news of him. If Tristram misliked the notion of breaking into the Dower House Abel, not so nice, would make a very good substitute.

“Yes, but it is altogether dangerous for you, and for us not at all,” Eustacie pointed out. “Besides, I do not see that it is fair that you should keep the whole adventure to yourself.”

“Damme, it’s my adventure, isn’t it?”

“It is not your adventure. It is mine too, and also it is Sarah’s, and she will not help us any more if you do not share it with her.”

“Oh, very well!” said Ludovic. “Not that I believe in this precious scheme of yours, mind you! Ten to one the Beau will suspect something. You can’t hunt for the catch to the panel under his very nose.”

“Entendu, but I have provided. I shall desire to speak with Basil alone, and he will like that, and permit it.”

Ludovic eyed her somewhat narrowly. “He will, will he?”

“Yes, because he has said that he would like to marry me.”

Ludovic sat up. “I won’t have you going up to the Dower House to let that fellow make love to you, so don’t think it!”

“Not that, stupid! I shall ask for his advice, and he will not make love to me, because Sarah will be there.”

“She won’t. She’ll be hunting for the panel.”

“But I could scream if he tried to make love to me!”

“Ay, so you could. You’ve a mighty shrill scream, what’s more. All the same, it’s my belief the scheme will fail. It’s a pity I can’t recall which room the curst panel is in.”

“Yes, I have been feeling that, too,” agreed Miss Thane. “I mean—it would be easier, wouldn’t it?”

“In an adventure,” said Eustacie severely, “it is not proper to have everything quite easy.”

Miss Thane was about to beg pardon when the sound of a quick, firm footstep on the stairs made them all look towards the door. It opened, but it was only Sir Tristram who came in, so that both ladies were able to relax their suddenly strained attitudes.

“Oh, it’s you, is it?” said Ludovic, withdrawing his hand from under his pillows, where it had been grasping the butt of a serviceable pistol. “Come in, and shut the door. Eustacie has thought of a plan. I don’t say it’s a good one, but it might answer.”

“Has the Beau been here?” Sir Tristram demanded.

“Yes, that’s what put this scheme of hers into Eustacie’s head. I wish I might have seen him. She tells me he has taken to wearing a lilac-striped coat.”

“I thought I could not be mistaken in his chaise. Why did he come?”

“He came to see me, and you must at once listen to me, mon cousin, because I have made a plot. I am going to take Sarah to the Dower House, because she has an envie to see it. I have told Basil that she likes old houses, and he was very content that she should see his. And when we are there I shall pretend that I wish to consult Basil, and while I am explaining to him how it is that I do not wish to marry you, Sarah will ask leave to make a drawing of the woodwork in the library. In that way she will be able to search for the secret panel, and when she has found it, she must steal the ring, and make just one little drawing to show Basil. Is it not a very good plot?”

“Yes,” said Shield, somewhat to her surprise, “it is a good plot, but if you do find the ring you must on no account remove it, Miss Thane. Make a sketch of that particular portion of the frieze so that we may easily find it again, and leave the rest to me.”

“Certainly,” said Miss Thane. “But there is just one thing—”

“Where’s the sense in leaving it there?” interrupted Ludovic. “I want my ring. I haven’t had a day’s good luck since I lost it.”

“There is just one thing,” began Miss Thane again, “which perhaps I ought to—”

“Of course, he must have the ring at once!” declared Eustacie. “Why should she leave it?”