‘I shall return for you. Keep your door locked until I come. Jervase has been drinking and he may annoy you.’ With that, he walked back to the hall, where Jervase, holding on by the handle of the door, was solemnly swaying to and fro. ‘I shall regret,’ said Boswell, ‘to be forced to use violence: but if you do not instantly free me of your very disagreeable presence I shall be compelled to do you damage. Stand on one side, I tell you. Go!’
There was that in the ring of his voice which pierced to Jervase’s intelligence, bemused as he was, and he staggered back into the parlour. The General undid the fastenings of the door and walked out into the keen, bright morning air. When he returned an hour later, Jervase had drunk himself to sleep, and there was no further trouble with him. Irene was ready and came from her bedroom at the General’s call. His heart ached as he looked at her, for the passage of that one night of sleepless grief had blighted all her fresh young beauty as a year of sickness might have done. He took her to his arms and held her there until she drew gently away from him.
‘I know, dear,’ she said in a voice she bravely tried to control, but with no great success. ‘I know, dear.’
They exchanged no further words until they reached home, but her father placed an arm about her shoulders and drew her to his breast, where she nestled quietly. She had wept all her tears away, but a dry sob shook her frame from time to time, and with every repetition of the sound the father’s face twitched as if a rough hand had been laid upon a wound. He parted from her tenderly when they reached home, and they met again at the breakfast table.
‘You understand everything that has happened, dear?’ he asked. ‘I think so.’
‘The owner of the salt mine which my partners have for years been robbing is a Major de Blacquaire, whose regiment is just now quartered at Birmingham. They will have the route in a day or two, and I must see him before he goes. I shall drive into the town at once; and then I must run up to London. I do not know as yet what my partners’ rascality may have cost me, but I am not a wealthy man, and the business may spell ruin. I cannot afford to be idle, and I must get back into harness. Lord Raglan knows my record. I was with him when he lost his right arm at Waterloo. He has more than once,’ the old soldier went on with a certain stateliness, ‘expressed a certain regard for me. I have every reason to believe myself highly honoured by his esteem. At a time like this men of experience will be in demand, and I feel hopeful of finding an appointment. I am not yet too old to serve my Queen and country. Lord Raglan will see service again, of course, and he is six years my senior, so that he is scarcely likely to make my years a ground of objection.’
‘Take me with you, dear,’ said Irene, ‘I shall not be very happy if I am left alone.’
‘Do you care for the drive this morning?’ her father asked.
‘I should like it,’ she answered, ‘of all things.’
‘Run away and dress then,’ said the General, ‘for I have ordered the carriage already, and it will be round in a quarter of an hour. That is short notice for a lady’s toilet.’ he went on, trying to smile, ‘but you must learn military despatch.’