Meet The Baron

“To tell you the truth,” said Lady Mary, laughing again, “I’m missing my afternoon nap. I’m so tired I could fall asleep any minute.”

“I’ve strong arms,” said Mannering.

“Don’t be a fool,” said Lady Mary. “But let’s get back. If I stay here for another five minutes I swear I’ll faint.”

“I doubt if you’ve ever fainted in your life,” said Mannering.

They moved towards the Wagnalls and Colonel Belton, who was making an old Guard’s effort not to look as bored as he felt. Daisy Wagnall laughed.

“He’s brave, but I’m not, Frankie. Say — might we hint at going?”

“Do; I’ll be sweet and take it,” said Lady Mary. “I’m sure hall” of us are absolutely tired out.”

“Weddings — or the after-effects — are such a strain,” said Daisy Wagnall.

“Darned lot of unnecessary fuss and bother,” opined Colonel Belton, who had taken more pleasure than anyone in the preparations for the event.

“Don’t say,” said Mrs Wagnall, with refreshing directness, “that you believe in free love. Colonel? I’ve always told Frankie that. . .”

The Colonel suddenly realised the construction she had put on his remark, and his face was redder than Mannering had ever seen it. Lady Mary laughed gently, and took the other woman by the arm. The little party broke up, and several others followed it. Within half an hour of the excitement in the library the necessary dozen were away from Park Square.

Mannering was standing in the hall with Lorna when Colonel Belton came up. The Colonel’s face was purple now, and it was obvious that something was the matter.

But Mannering affected to notice nothing, and his smile was as cheerful as ever; he had schooled himself for the announcement that was coming.

“We’re just off,” he said, “but we’d like . . .”

He stopped, no longer able to ignore Belton’s obvious distress, and there was concern in Lorna’s eyes. Mannering spoke for her as well as himself.

“What’s the trouble, Colonel ?”

“I’ve had the shook of my life,” said Belton, breathing hard. “Er — could you spare me a minute? I won’t keep him long. Miss Fauntley.”

Lorna nodded, and Mannering went a few yards away with the Colonel. He was still schooling himself to make the necessary reaction and to show surprise, and the delay was unnerving. But no amount of schooling could have prepared him for the words that came.

“It’s about young Long,” said Belton.

Mannering’s eyes narrowed, but it was the only evidence of surprise he showed; so far, of course, there was no reason for it. He waited, on the alert.

“Ye-es,” said Belton. who seemed to have a great deal of difficulty in controlling his voice. “Gerry Long has — er . . . Hang it, Mannering, the pearls that Lady Kenton gave to Marie . . . They’ve gone. Long’s been arrested.”

‘Gerry Long?” The thing came with a suddenness that made Mannering gasp, but at least he had reason enough for the stupefaction in his eyes as he stared at Belton, hardly able to believe his ears. “Arrested — but that’s damned silly. On what grounds, Colonel ?”

George Beaton looked very grim indeed.

“The only grounds I’d believe in,” he said. “He had the pearls in his pocket, Mannering, in his pocket!”

Mannering stared blankly at the soldier; the thing was impossible, he told himself. He had the pearls. Gerry Long could not possibly have them. Yet — the police would not have acted, Belton would not have been so sure, unless it was true — which was absurd.

“I really can’t believe it,” he said slowly. Then he stopped and offered cigarettes, and the Colonel accepted one thankfully.

“I’ll get Miss Fauntley to go along with her people,” Mannering said a moment later, and at any other time Colonel Belton would have noticed the strange hardness in his companion’s voice. “I won’t keep you a moment. Colonel.”

He reached the girl quickly and explained that he was wanted. Lorna nodded when he suggested that she should go with the others.

“Something serious?” she asked, as she saw his grimace.

For a moment Mannering thought that she had asked the question anxiously. He brushed the idea on one side; her dark eyes were laughing at him now.

“It might be worse,” lie said, with an effort.

He saw Lorna into the car, and then turned back towards the Colonel, who was talking to the older Wagnall. The stocky little private detective came towards them as Mannering drew up.

“They would like to see you, Colonel Belton,” he said importantly.

“I’m coming, I’m coming,” said Belton testily. You, Wagnall? Mannering?”

“There’s some absurd mistake,” said Mannering, in an effort to restore something of the good spirits that seemed to have left the Colonel completely. The effort fell flat, as he had half-expected; in some ways he was not sorry, for he was still utterly bewildered. The pearls which had been on the table were in his pocket; he could feel them now.