For a moment Merrylips was quite alarmed. She thought that now that their only champion was silenced, Rupert would indeed be kept forever at Ryeborough castle. But she found that, after the fashion of grown folk, Lord Caversham was only jesting.
"Dick," he was saying next instant, quite soberly, "what sayst thou to a month's leave of absence? 'Twere well perhaps that thou shouldst go down into the west with these three lads."
Once more Merrylips was astonished to hear Munn thus lumped with her and Rupert, as if he were but a boy!
"Thou shalt lay open all the matter," went on Lord Caversham, "touching this boy's birth and kinship, to Sir Thomas Venner, and to Lady Sybil, even as I would do, could I myself go thither. And haply among the men that survived the assault of Monksfield they may find the trooper Hinkel, to tell his part in the story. For though this youngster might find it hard to prove his claim to the name of Lucas in a court of law, 'tis his in right and justice, and so I will maintain. And for Ned Lucas's sake, I would fain see the child acknowledged by his kinsfolk."
"I'll do my best endeavor, sir," Dick Fowell promised. "So soon as you can get us safe conducts and arrange for Cornet Venner's exchange, we'll be off for Walsover."
At that Merrylips longed to cry "Hurrah!" as Tibbott Venner would have done. Indeed her face broke into smiles, as she looked at Rupert, and then at Lord Caversham. She would gladly have said that she was much beholden to him, but she feared to be too forward, with Munn looking on.
But Lord Caversham caught her eye. He was just asking kindly, "Wouldst thou say aught unto me, lad?" when a serving-fellow came to his side, and bent and whispered, and laid a packet in his hand.
"A messenger post-haste from London, eh?" said Lord Caversham.
With a grave face of business, such as he had not yet shown, he said, "By your leaves!" and opened and looked upon the letters that lay within the packet.
When he glanced up, he was smiling in a dry fashion, as if he were but one part mirthful and the other part vexed. He tossed the letters on the table.