“It’s a Miss Grayson, sir, and an heiress as I believe. A pretty brown-eyed chit.”
The old gentleman’s eyes became intent. “Grayson?” he repeated. “Grayson, my daughter?”
“Do you know the name, sir?”
He put the tips of his fingers together and gazed abstractedly before him. There was no reading what lay in his mind. “Grayson!” he said softly.
“You know something of Sir Humphrey, sir?”
His remarkable eyes travelled to her face. “My child, there are few people of whom I do not know something,” he announced, and took his stately leave of them.
Prudence saw no necessity to mention the matter to her brother, but to John, whom she found arranging pots of powder and paint in Robin’s chamber, she said: “The old gentleman’s mysterious over Miss Grayson, John. Is Sir Humphrey a friend of his boyhood?”
John could not take it upon himself to answer.
“Ay, you know more than you’ll admit, don’t you?” said Prudence.
John set down one of the pots with a snap. “I’ll say this, Miss Prue: I don’t understand the game he’s playing now!”
“Why, when have any of us understood him?”
The man compressed his lips, and seemed to regret his outburst. He could vouchsafe no more.
Robin came in a while later, a vision in cherry stripes, and a lace fichu. “The Markham hangs about Letty still,” he said abruptly. “She meets him at houses here and there. I’m to gather he tries to ingratiate himself once more.”
Prudence raised her brows. “She’s ill-watched then,” she said.
“As to that, the aunt plays euchre, and it’s supposed none but the most reputable have admission to these private parties. He’s all conciliation from what she says.”
“Lord, has she a mind to play the fool again?”
Robin looked scornful. “Oh, is it a jest?”
“One of your own, child. I take a leaf from your book.” She laughed. “Or does she dream of the Black Domino?”
“God knows. The Markham has no hope of her now.”
“A persistent gentleman, faith.”
“I take it the man goes in danger of a debtor’s prison. He’s deeply involved, as I hear, but was used to hang upon Rensley. Now, if the old gentleman ousts Rensley, he’ll have need of a fresh patron, or a rich bride. It’s a dangerous dog.”
He had set his finger on the very marrow of it. Mr. Markham saw himself in some need of relief. The turf played him false, and the cards went badly. It seemed to him that his noble friend’s sun was setting fast: Mr. Rensley had that day been informed by a grave man of law that no fault could be found with my Lord Barham’s papers. If it could not be proved that my lord had stolen them from the real owner he must stand acknowledged Tremaine of Barham. There was, then, an end to a profitable friendship. Mr. Markham had small hope of a happy issue. Mr. Rensley, in a moment of impetuosity, had named the sum he would be glad to give the man who should prove my lord an impostor, but although Mr. Markham would be willing to perform that office for him he could not at present see the means of doing it.
His recollection of the gaming-house at Munich had led nowhere. Mr. Rensley had had some biting words to say of it. Mr. Rensley was in a very bad temper over the whole affair, and his manner to his friend was such that Mr. Markham began to conceive a positive dislike for him.
XV
Challenge to Mr. Merriot
There was no means of telling what John, that stolid creature, made of the situation. His young master and mistress suspected him of being deeper in the old gentleman’s secrets than they were, but he had never a word to say on the matter. When my lord had made his first startling appearance they came home and told him of it, and awaited some show of surprise. It was not forthcoming. John gave a grunt and said that he had doubted but that the old gentleman would arrive soon. As to the manner of his arrival, John seemed to think it natural enough, and he never failed thereafter to give my lord his title. The old gentleman had greeted him with an affectionate smile, and a hand carelessly outflung. John had looked beneath his brows and said gruffly that the affair of Master Robin must be seen to. He further volunteered the opinion that Robin’s present guise was unseemly. As for Miss Prue, the sooner she was got out of this coil the better. John had a grim way with him, but they had none of them the need ever to stand in doubt of his devotion. Nothing could abate the supreme belief in himself that my lord held, but certainly he used fewer extravagancies with his servant than with his children, and would condescend to listen to John’s disapproving words. But not even John could hope to make much impression on that magnificent mind. My lord waved a hand, and promised ultimate success.
“You’re playing a game I don’t understand, my lord,” John said severely. “It’s more of your playacting, for sure, but why you should do it, sir, I can’t see.”
“I plan a great coup,” my lord assured him. “There must never be aught crude in my actions, John. There has never been. I go warily, and I contrive. Oh, but I contrive a tour de force! Continue to watch over my children!”
“It’s well there’s someone to do it, my lord,” said John. “For it’s little care of them you’d be taking. Masquerades and the like!”
“My John, you are foolish. You lack understanding. My wing is spread over the children, as ever.”
“There’s this Miss Grayson,” John continued, entirely ignoring his lordship. “Master Robin must needs set his fancy on her. I’d a word or two with Sir Humphrey’s man, and it’s little hope there is that he’d countenance such a marriage.”
The old gentleman
