“Whisht, darlin’, ’tis a mere thrifle, I assure you. … Well, as I was saying, on me way home, what should happen but that we be held up by one of these highwaymen—”
My lady’s eyes widened in horror, and two little hands clutched at his coat.
“Oh, Miles!”
His arm tightened round her waist.
“Sure, asthore, I’m still alive to tell the tale, though ’tis not far I’ll be getting with you interrupting at every moment!”
“But, Miles, how terrible! You might have been killed! And you never told me! ’Twas monstrous wicked of you, darling!”
“Faith, Molly, how should I be telling you when ’twas yourself that was fast asleep? Now will you whisht?”
She nodded obediently, and dimpled.
“Well, as I say, here was this man standing in the road, pointing his pistol at me. But will ye believe me, me love, when I tell you that that same pistol was as empty as—my own?” Here he was shaken with laughter. “Lud, Molly, ’twas the drollest thing! I had me pistol in me hand, knowing ’twas unloaded, and wondering what the devil, saving your presence, was to do next, when the idea struck me that I should try to bluff me fine sir. So I cried out that his pistol was unloaded, and completely took him by surprise! Sure he hadn’t time to ask himself how the devil I should be knowing that! He dropped it on the road. Afther—”
“Miles, you are becoming very Irish!”
“Never say so, alanna. After that ’twas simple enough, and me lord gave in. He held out his hands for me to bind—and here’s where ’tis puzzling, Molly—I saw that they were a prodigious sight too white and fine for an ordinary highwayman. So I taxed him with it—”
“ ’Twas a gentleman in disguise! How splendid, Miles!”
“Will ye hold your tongue, asthore, and not be spoiling me story on me?”
“Oh, indeed I am sorry! I will be good!”
“—and he started and seemed monstrous put out. What’s more, me dear, I heard him speak to his mare in an ordinary, gentleman’s voice. Molly, ye never saw the like of that same mare! The sweetest—”
“Pray, never mind the mare, dear! I am all agog to hear about the gentleman-highwayman!”
“Very well, me love, though ’twas a prodigious fine mare—When I heard him speak, it flashed across me brain that I knew him—no, ye don’t, Molly!” His hand was over her mouth as he spoke, and her eyes danced madly. “But I could not for the life of me think where I had heard that voice: ’twas but the one word I heard him speak, ye understand, and when I held his wrists I felt that ’twas no stranger. And yet ’tis impossible. When I got him within the coach—”
“How imprudent! He might have—”
“Whisht now! When I got him within the coach I tried to worm his identity out of him, but ’twas to no avail. But when I told him he would have to appear before me today, he went off into a fit of laughing, till I wondered what he was at, at all. And not another word could I get out of him after beyond ‘Yes, sir,’ and ‘No, sir.’ Still, I felt that ’twas a gentleman all the same, so I—”
He was enveloped in a rapturous embrace.
“You dear Miles! You let him escape?”
“Sure, alanna, is it meself that would be doing the like? And me a Justice of the Peace withal? I told them not to handcuff me lord.”
“Oh, I do so wish you had let him escape! But if ’tis really a gentleman, you will?”
“I will not then, asthore. I’ll be sending him to await the Assizes.”
“You are very cruel, then.”
“But, me darlin’—”
“And I wish to get off your knee.” He drew her close.
“I’ll see what can be done for your protégé, Molly. But don’t be forgetting he tried to kill the only husband you have!” He watched the effect of this with that humorous twinkle in his eye. But my lady was not to be put off.
“With an empty pistol? Fie on you, Miles! And may I hide behind the screen while you question him?”
“Ye may not.”
“But I wish so much to see him!”
O’Hara shook his head with an air of finality she knew full well. However easygoing and good-natured her husband might be, there were times when he was impervious to all blandishments. So after darkly hinting that she would be nearer than he imagined, she gave up the contest to go and visit young Master David in his nursery.
For some time in lockup Carstares had cudgelled his brain to think out a possible mode of escape next day, but try as he might he could light on nothing. If only Miles were not to question him! It was hardly likely that he would be allowed to retain his mask, yet therein lay his only chance of preserving his incognito. He prayed that by some merciful providence O’Hara would either fail to recognise him or would at least pretend that he did not. Having decided that there was nothing further to be done in the matter he lay down on his extremely hard pallet, and went to sleep as if he had not a care in the world.
Next morning, after a long and wordy argument with the head gaoler on the subject of masks, he was haled in triumph to the house.
As the little cavalcade was about to ascend the steps that led to the front door, my Lady O’Hara came gaily forth carrying a basket and a pair of scissors, and singing a snatch of song. At the sight of the highwayman the song broke off and her red lips formed a long-drawn “Oh!” She stood quite still on the top step, gazing down at my lord. The two gaolers stood aside to allow her to come down, just as a greyhound darted up the steps and flung itself against her in an exuberance of joy. My lady, none too securely balanced, reeled; the basket fell from
