go and stay at the Bells and Motley — that is, if the Ellsworthy contingent have left?'
Luke shook his head. 'No, you'd better go back to London . I'll explain presently. In the meantime, I suppose I'd better see Easterfield.'
'I suppose it's the thing to do. It's all rather beastly, isn't it? I feel such a rotten little gold digger.'
Luke smiled at her. 'It was a fair enough bargain. You'd have played straight with him. Anyway, it's no use lamenting over things that are past and done with. I'll go in and see Easterfield now.'
He found Lord Easterfield striding up and down the drawing room. He was outwardly calm; there was even a slight smile on his lips. But Luke noticed that a pulse in his temple was beating furiously. He wheeled round as Luke entered. 'Oh, there you are, Fitzwilliam.'
Luke said, 'It's no good my saying I'm sorry for what I've done. That would be hypocritical. I admit that from your point of view I've behaved badly and I've very little to say in defense. These things happen.'
Lord Easterfield resumed his pacing.
'Quite — quite!' He waved a hand.
Luke went on. 'Bridget and I have treated you shamefully. But there it is! We care for each other, and there's nothing to be done about it, except to tell you the truth and clear out.'
Lord Easterfield stopped. He looked at Luke with his pale protuberant eyes. 'No,' he said, 'there's nothing you can do about it.' There was a very curious tone in his voice. He stood looking at Luke, gently shaking his head, as though in commiseration.
Luke said sharply, 'What do you mean?'
'There's nothing you can do,' said Lord Easterfield. 'It's too late.'
Luke took a step nearer him. 'Tell me what you mean?'
Lord Easterfield said, unexpectedly, 'Ask Honoria Waynflete. She'll understand. She knows what happens. She spoke to me about it once.'
'What does she understand?'
Lord Easterfield said, 'Evil doesn't go unpunished. There must be justice. I'm sorry, because I'm fond of Bridget. In a way, I'm sorry for you both.'
Luke said, 'Are you threatening us?'
Lord Easterfield seemed genuinely shocked. 'No, no, my dear fellow. I've no feeling in the matter. When I did Bridget the honor to choose her as my wife, she accepted certain responsibilities. Now, she repudiates them, but there's no going back in this life. If you break laws, you pay the penalty.'
Luke clenched both hands. He said, 'You mean that something is going to happen to Bridget? Now, understand me, Easterfield; nothing is going to happen to Bridget, nor to me! If you attempt anything of that kind, it's the finish. You'd better be careful! I know a good deal about you!'
'It's nothing to do with me,' said Lord Easterfield. 'I'm only the instrument of a higher Power. What that Power decrees, happens.'
'I see you believe that,' said Luke.
'Because it's the truth! Anyone who goes against me pays the penalty. You and Bridget will be no exception.'
Luke said, 'That's where you're wrong. However long a run of luck may be, it breaks in the end. Yours is very near breaking now.'
Lord Easterfield said gently, 'My dear young man, you don't know who it is you're talking to. Nothing can touch me!'
'Can't it? We'll see. You'd better watch your step, Easterfield.'
A little ripple of movement passed over the other. His voice had changed when he spoke. 'I've been very patient,' said Lord Easterfield. 'Don't strain my patience too far. Get out of here.'
'I'm going,' said Luke, 'as quick as I can. Remember that I've warned you.'
He turned on his heel and went quickly out of the room. He ran upstairs. He found Bridget in her room, superintending the packing of her clothes by a housemaid.
'Ready soon?'
'In ten minutes.'
Her eyes asked a question which the presence of the maid prevented her from putting into words. Luke gave a short nod. He went to his own room and flung his things hurriedly into his suitcases. He returned ten minutes later to find Bridget ready for departure.
'Shall we go now?'
'I'm ready.'
As they descended the staircase, they met the butler ascending. 'Miss Waynflete has called to see you, miss.'
'Miss Waynflete? Where is she?'
'In the drawing room with his lordship.'
Bridget went straight to the drawing room, Luke close behind her. Lord Easterfield was standing by the window talking to Miss Waynflete. He had a knife in his hand — a long slender blade. 'Perfect workmanship,' he was saying. 'One of my young men brought it back to me from Morocco , where he'd been special correspondent. It's Moorish, of course, a Riff knife.' He drew a finger lovingly along the blade. 'What an edge!'
Miss Waynflete said sharply, 'Put it away, Gordon, for goodness' sake!'
He smiled and laid it down among a collection of other weapons on the table. 'I like the feel of it,' he said softly.
Miss Waynflete had lost some of her usual poise. She looked white and nervous. 'Ah, there you are, Bridget, my dear,' she said.
Lord Easterfield chuckled. 'Yes, there's Bridget. Make the most of her, Honoria. She won't be with us long.'
Miss Waynflete said sharply, 'What d'you mean?'
'Mean? I mean she's going to London . That's right, isn't it? That's all I meant.'
He looked round at them all. 'I've got a bit of news for you, Honoria,' he said. 'Bridget isn't going to marry me, after all. She prefers Fitzwilliam here! A queer thing, life. Well, I'll leave you to have your talk.'
He went out of the room, his hands jingling the coins in his pockets.
'Oh, dear!' said Miss Waynflete. 'Oh, dear!'
The deep distress in her voice was so noticeable that Bridget looked slightly surprised.
She said uncomfortably, 'I'm sorry. I really am frightfully sorry.'
Miss Waynflete said, 'He's angry — he's frightfully angry. Oh, dear, this is terrible! What are we going to do?'
Bridget stared. 'Do? What do you mean?'
Miss Waynflete said, including them both in her reproachful glance, 'You should never have told him!'
Bridget said, 'Nonsense. What else could we do?'
'You shouldn't have told him now. You should have waited till you'd got right away.'
Bridget said shortly, 'That's a matter of opinion. I think myself it's better to get unpleasant things over as quickly as possible.'
'Oh, my dear, if it were only a question of that –' She stopped. Then her eyes asked a question of Luke.
Luke shook his head. His lips formed the words, 'Not yet.'
Miss Waynflete murmured, 'I see.'
Bridget said, with some slight exasperation, 'Did you want to see me about something in particular. Miss Waynflete?'
'Well, yes. As a matter of fact, I came to suggest that you should come and pay me a little visit. I thought — er — you might find it uncomfortable to remain on here, and that you might want a few days to — er — well, mature your plans.'
'Thank you, Miss Waynflete; that was very kind of you.'
'You see, you'd be quite safe with me and –'
Bridget interrupted, 'Safe?'
Miss Waynflete, a little flustered, said hurriedly,
'Comfortable — that's what I mean — quite comfortable with me. I mean, not nearly so luxurious as here,
