But Harry had an answer to that. Little though he might like doing the pretty amongst all the smarts and fribbles of the ton, he hoped he was not rag-mannered. Rather cool, he said, to depend on a chance meeting for the opportunity to pay his respects to the Marquis! He had given the matter some thought; and since it appeared that Alverstoke had placed them all under an obligation he felt that it behooved him to pay a formal visit in Berkeley Square not merely as a gesture of civility, but to discharge Jessamy’s debt.
“Well, I own I should be glad if you could do so,” said Frederica, “but I don’t think he will let you! I expect you are quite right in thinking that you should pay him a morning visit, but, whatever you do, Harry, don’t let it be before noon! Jessamy and I have both invaded his house before he had left his dressing-room, and for a third Merriville to do so would be quite dreadful!”
“What a paltry fellow!” exclaimed Harry scornfully.
But when, strictly adhering to Frederica’s advice, he presented himself in Berkeley Square, one glance was enough to convince him that whatever epithet might be used to describe the Marquis, paltry was very fair and far off indeed.
As luck would have it, he arrived at Alverstoke’s house just as Alverstoke emerged from it, exquisitely attired in a blue coat of Weston’s tailoring, the palest of pantaloons, the snowiest of neckcloths, and Hessian boots so highly polished that they glinted in the sunshine. Harry, pausing with one foot on the first of the shallow steps leading up to the door, received an instant impression of tremendous elegance, but not for a moment did it occur to him that he was gazing at a veritable Tulip of the Ton. That coat of blue superfine was moulded over magnificent shoulders; and those clinging pantaloons in no way concealed the swell of muscles in his lordship’s powerful thighs which unmistakeably proclaimed the athlete.
The Marquis, also pausing, but at the top of the steps, looked down at his unexpected visitor. His brows were slightly raised, but after a swift, keen scrutiny, they sank, and he smiled, saying: “Don’t take the trouble to introduce yourself! Unless I am very much mistaken, you roust be Harry Merriville.”
Harry acknowledged it, too well-accustomed to be recognized by his resemblance to his lovely sister to feel surprise at his lordship’s acumen. His lordship, correctly interpreting the look of revulsion in his face, gave him further proof of it. “There is a great family-likeness between you all,” he said smoothly. “Come in, and tell me what brings you to London! Not that I need ask! For how long are you sent down?”
Since his tone held nothing but sympathetic interest, Harry saw no reason to take umbrage, and replied, with his frank, attractive smile: “Oh, only for the rest of the term, sir. It was nothing — just fun and gig! But the Bagwig was feeling out of curl, and he chose to cut up stiff. But I’m detaining you! Perhaps you have an engagement?”
“It’s not of the smallest consequence,” replied the Marquis, relinquishing his hat, his gloves, and his cane into his footman’s hands, and leading the way into the library. “You shall drink a glass of sherry with me, and tell me in what way I can serve you.”
“Good God, sir, none at all!” said Harry, shocked. “It seems to me that you have done a great deal for my family already. I came merely to thank you for your kind offices.”
“How very civil of you! But pray don’t!”
“Yes, that’s all very well,” objected Harry, “but for the life of me I can’t see that we have the least claim upon you, sir!”
“You are forgetting our relationship.”
“It ain’t a case of forgetting, for I never knew of it,” said Harry bluntly. “Frederica says you are our cousin, but I’ve a strong notion she’s shamming it!”
“You wrong her. Our relationship is a trifle remote, perhaps, but we — er — meet somewhere on the family tree, I assure you.”
“Well, that might be, I daresay,” conceded Harry doubtfully. “I never took much interest in the family tree myself, but of course I know that everyone has hosts of relations one’s never met in one’s life.”
“And some of them such very Queer Nabs!” murmured his lordship.
“Yes, by Jove, aren’t they just?” exclaimed Harry, with considerable feeling. He burst out laughing at the quizzical look in the Marquis’s eye. “Oh, I don’t mean you, sir! How could I? But only think of my Aunt Seraphina! Not that she’s an unknown relation — I only wish to God she were! I daresay you are acquainted with her?”
“I am, and you have all my sympathy.” Harry nodded, but said: “Oh, well! She don’t come the ugly with the girls, and they must have somebody to play gooseberry, I suppose.” He waited, while Wick-en, who had entered the room, set a heavily embossed silver tray down at his master’s elbow; but when he had accepted a glass of sherry from his host he said: “The thing is, sir, that if we are only remotely related there’s no reason in the world why you should be troubled with any of us, and I don’t like it at all that my sister Frederica should have jockeyed you into it! Which,” he added shrewdly, “I’ll go bail she did!”
“Oh, no!” replied his lordship. “I collect you were not aware that I was under an obligation to your father.”
“No, I wasn’t,” said Harry.
“How should you be?” said his lordship, with the sweet, discomfiting smile which rarely failed to depress pretension.
Harry knew an impulse to ask in what way his erratic parent had contrived to place this unquestionable out-and-outer under an obligation, but the smile warned him that any such enquiry would be an impertinence. He refrained, therefore; but after drinking a little sherry made a recover, and said, his chin lifting a little: “However that may be, sir, I must feel myself greatly indebted to you. Not only for sponsoring my sisters, which — which is a debt I can’t repay, but for coming so kindly to my young brother’s rescue. That debt I can repay, and — and wish to do immediately! In fact, that forms a part of my errand to you, so will you tell me, if you please, what was the sum which you were obliged to spend on Ms behalf?”
“I am afraid you will have to hold me excused,” replied his lordship apologetically. “For one thing, I don’t know: my secretary settled the business; and, for another, I lent Jessamy the sum, whatever it may have been, upon certain terms.”
“Yes, sir — he told me, and — and I’m very much obliged to you! Though why the silly gudgeon didn’t bring his coverthack to London, instead of making a dashed martyr of himself, or even hire a horse — ”
“I hardly think he would care for a job-horse. And since he is determined not to incur the expense of a horse and a groom in London, may I suggest that you leave well alone?”
Harry flushed. “I beg your pardon, but it isn’t well, sir! I mean, there’s no reason why Jessamy should be so much beholden to you: he should have applied to me, because I’m his guardian, not you!”
“Oh, I haven’t the smallest intention of usurping your authority!” the Marquis assured him.
“It isn’t so much that — well, as a matter of fact, it’s my sister who has the younger ones in charge,” confessed Harry. “But when it comes to letting my brother — my ward! — run into debt — no!”
“Ah, that is a matter which lies between you and him, and in no way concerns me! Give him a thundering scold — if you feel it to be your duty!”
“What, when I’ve been sent down myself?” exclaimed Harry. “I’m not such a mawworm! Besides,”
he added frankly, “I’ll be damned if I give my head to Jessamy for washing!”