A Blot on the Scutcheon

hole when all London is in darkness awaiting its sun of beauty to shine on it." Gabrielle laughed,

ce it must be a small place for one such light to be sufficient fo

wn and posy of primroses, nestling in the soft laces at her breast, set off to advantage. "You don't know the delights of conquest. Why,

pite of obvious annoyance at his glances, "for I should

ory. Lord Denningham grinned as

how me your woods to-morrow, and teach me that primrose-plucking is more entertaining

iled sarcasm sent the rosy blushes to her cheeks,

ersion, and my woods are no more for you than I am for

e great saloon, Lady Helmington's fat shoulders w

nd of gambling as her

ng as he toyed with the gilt

" quoth he, persisting. "But a lover-or h

ore rosy red with ange

y lord," she replied hastily. "I'll no

guid blue eye

ply those too?" said he. "Fi

han ever for her passion, sweeping past her i

a suit of sober green, with fine lace ruffles and jabot,-a gentleman somewhat old, somewhat bent, and more than somewh

th a chuckle. He had quite determined that this country chit should have the inestimab

ion, from spangled satin waistcoat to buckled shoes, made him turn his

ha! ha!" cried Morice Conyers, slapping S

hout the salt of your company; as for the

aughed gaily. He was steady now on his legs, and there were no

had rotted for years in a dungeon, and wondered very greatly how Morice

el, remembering, perhaps, a more recent event under the shadow of a high wall,

voice broke through

ain, Morry," he cried gaily. "My so

in but handsome dress, with dark head held proudly, and a quiet look of steady dogge

ehind broke a

ad stranger to whom Mistres

demanded. "Though I'm th

ravely, but wit

ng blue eyes surveyed hi

"the Oxford coach which you drove with ex

e beetroot-nosed gentleman with the valise who had been the

ghter, the hero of it crossed boldly to where a little figure sat solitary i

ss Gabr

, and the blushes wer

silken hose. For a woman notices these things, though Michael could only have told that it was the same sweet f

and emptiness to bestow on his lady. Yet she had no fault to find with him for that, though she was

e asked him. "Tel

no less sweet than the w

ed. "That is how I found entrance

k a harder look as she glanced across the room to where Mori

pered, and Michael drew

the two words struck him the c

nted, for she laid a soft li

red. "Only-for the momen

s face w

e replied. "We have no ri

hecked further speech

nce." She smiled with a flash of coquetry to give meaning to her words. "And as you are my knight I lay command upon

r rose from the card-table where Lady Helmington, having won her rubber and being in a vastly g

mple meal awaited them in the dining-room, bidding Morice escort her ladyship thither, whilst-after

gton willing enough, for one, to join in the re

whilst on her left hand was seated Mr. Guy Barton, a silent and imperturbable gentleman who ate

rather the exception if a gentleman did not need his valet or butler to escort

pper, tête-à-tête with a little prude who turned a deaf and obviously disapproving ear to

er French maid, whilst Gabrielle, after a few minutes' wistful lingering, followed her unwelcome guest, not daring to remain alone, unchaperoned, yet longing-she did not tell herself for what, though she kissed the half-withered posy of primroses ere she laid them a

blue eyes that looked-so--. Grey eyes for her-grey eyes that

still-perhaps-if she dreamt that night, grey eyes

before she turned with a blush and sigh, which latter was half laugh of soft content, to climb into the big four-poster be

n the land was like as not to find a common resting-place at the bottom of a pun

e generations of Conyers were playing havoc with tongue

ill with his present mood, the young man to

nd some one awaitin

m pondering philosophically on the strange trick of fate that brought him here. Surely the ghost of Ralph Conyers, bent, twisted Ralph, who had carried a life

nyers! His father the traitor who

what a

man who would woo Ralph Conyers's pretty daughter and win her-i

of hazel eyes and the soft roundness of

on to the terrace to cool the fever in his v

e only with

l pledge

kiss with

not ask f

ki

es to dream the same dream into his, the soft clasp of yieldi

ies! Was it likely that such an angel

he hot blood of youth surged wildly in his veins, re

golden hours in Barham

moonlight alone he was picturing the scene, lingering over the memory of how one bolder sunbeam had been

ne less sweet and true because it was born and mat

in his ear, broke the fairy spell which Qu

than most how to measur

es. "Well, well, so much the better. I confess I don't care for all the

You knew my

passport already to th

and a dear one to boot. You'd n

the name. There was some

ll not be vaunting before the man who handled the ribbons throug

glad to have served my

'll have it. I see your fa

urned t

at Langton Hall to celebrate the occasion

Perhaps you knew

or a bad son. No, I'm no friend to Steenie Berrington, but I'll stand yours, as

y was bot

take friends from every bylane as a rule,

s snuff-box

r, and your own eyes. I am a reade

ael

ue and beetroot nose was already more to his l

n his arm in a most

ers, too," he observed shrewdly. "She ne

y, and I meet him for the

oo, a disce

be too hasty in m

fight, warm heart for a friend, true love for a wife. So y

likely to choose my friends

ies. Given adversity and a good sword

pretty fool in the eyes of h

But I still look for the day when Ralph Conyers' son will forget his follie

I believe,

e discretion. Did you happen to notice a gentle

d fellow with black

t, accredited agent of

ublic! You mean th

lied Mr. Barton, taking a pinch of snuff with great deliberation. "Yo

ained in Surrey. I fear the news of the

it might inte

onvince

ng, pernicious bodies of sympathisers with a Revolution which should have for its motto 'Murder, plunder, and rapine' instead of 'Liberty, equality, and fraternity.' Yet, when the Society of the Friends of the Peo

bject is-s

on to follow Johnny Crapaud's example, and drag down all law and existing order. Yes, and this fine Society of which I am speaking is the worst of all, because it works in the dark. No one knows the five names of the governing committee, though the

face was v

my fa

shrugged hi

now," he observed. "But he and Morice Conyers are excelle

le Gabrielle Conyers holds a daughter's place in my heart, and-well-I saw the child greet you. You understand? If her brother goes mixing himself up with seditious societies and

before Michael had time to answer, a burst of

d be jolly and

t us rejoice,

r bowls, all y

health, to great

to the terrace came lurching a trio of half-drunken revellers, th

rge our K-King," hiccoughed o

th a frown of disgus

r gentlemen to be returning home. They

He had seen his father on the steps t

ld be more discrimin