The Knave of Diamonds | Page 5

Here is someone
coming! Don't speak, and p'r'aps they won't discover us. They can't stay
long."
He rose swiftly with the words and blocked the little spy-hole with his
body. Certainly footsteps were approaching, but they ceased before
they reached the alcove at the end of the passage. There was another
settee midway.
"Oh, this is quite comfortable," said a woman's voice. "Here I am,
Major Shirley! It's dark, isn't it, but rather a relief after the glare
downstairs. What a crush it is! I am beginning to think the Hunt Ball
rather a farce, for it is next to impossible to dance."
"People don't know how to dance nowadays," grumbled Major Shirley
in response. "I can't stand these American antics. That young Nap Errol
fairly sickens me."
"Oh, but he is a splendid dancer," protested his partner tolerantly.
"Oh course you say so," growled the Major. "All women like that
horrid little whipper-snapper. I can't see what in thunder they find to
attract them. I call him a downright cad myself, and I'm inclined to

think him a blackguard as well. He wouldn't be tolerated if it weren't
for his dollars, and they all belong to his brother, I'm told."
"Ah! He is a charming man. Such a pity he is a cripple!"
"He would probably be as insufferable as Nap if he weren't," rejoined
the Major gloomily. "I can't think what the County are coming to. They
will accept anybody nowadays, it seems to me. I even met that little
bounder at the Rifle Club the other day. Heaven knows how he got in.
Dollars again, I suppose, confound his audacity!"
His partner made a slight movement of uneasiness. "I wonder where he
is. I haven't seen him for some time. I hope he isn't anywhere within
earshot."
"Not he! He is stowed away in some corner well out of the way with
his latest conquest. He won't turn up again this evening. He never does
when once he goes to earth--the wily young fox."
"Who is his latest conquest, I wonder?" mused the woman. "I thought it
was Mrs. Damer. But I have just seen her dancing with young Waring."
"Mrs. Damer! Why, that was the day before yesterday!" The Major
laughed unpleasantly. "'Anyone for a change, but no one for long,' is
his motto. The fellow is an infernal bounder through and through. He
will get a sound hiding one of these days, and serve him jolly well right,
say I!"
"My dear Major, how you hate him! Anyone would think he had tried
to flirt with Violet."
"He'd better," growled the Major.
There came a slight sound from the darkness of the alcove, as though
someone faintly chuckled.
"What's that?" asked the woman's voice nervously.
"Nothing--nothing!" said the Major testily. "Somebody laughing in the

hall. I wonder where my wife is. I shall clear out soon. I'm tired of this
show. Haven't had a decent dance all the evening. Shouldn't think you
have either. They ought to build a Town Hall in this place, and do the
thing properly."
"There is some talk of it, you know. Now that there is a millionaire in
the neighbourhood it really might be done. The Carfaxes would help
too, I am sure. Sir Giles is very open-handed."
"Drunken beast!" commented the Major. "A pretty spectacle he has
been making of himself to-night. He is sitting in a corner of the
refreshment-room now absolutely incapable. He reached the noisy
stage very early in the evening. I am not sure that he even came sober."
"No! Isn't it too pitiful for words? That young wife of his! I can't think
how she endures it. It must be positive martyrdom."
"Lady Carfax is a fool!" said the Major crossly. "I can't stand these
martyrs. If she leads a dog's life it's her own fault. She's a fool to put up
with it."
"Perhaps she can't help herself," pleaded the woman.
"Stuff and nonsense! No woman need be the slave of a drunken sot like
that. It's a downright offence to me to be in the same room with the
fellow. He always reeks of drink. And she has, or professes to have, a
certain amount of refinement. Not much, I dare say. She was nothing
but his bailiff's daughter, you know, and people of that class don't
generally suffer from an exaggerated sense of duty. She probably sticks
to the man because she wants to keep in with the County. I don't like
the woman, never did. Her airs and graces always rub me up wrong
way. Why couldn't Sir Giles have married in his own set? He probably
wouldn't be so fond of the whiskey bottle now if he had."
"I must say I like Lady Carfax," broke in the woman with