The Earl’s eyes, which had been fixed watchfully on his face, fell. “Petersham’s praise should be enough to satisfy you,” he said. “I know of no better judge.”
“Judith says it is a sort no gentleman of taste could use,” complained Peregrine. “If you think that I suppose I had better throw it all away, for I daresay Petersham was only wishing to be civil.”
“Miss Taverner is prejudiced against scented snuffs,” replied the Earl. “You need not be afraid of using this sort.”
“Well, I am glad of that,” said Peregrine. “You know, I have a whole jar of it at home, and it would be a pity to waste it.”
“Certainly. But I hope you keep your jar in a warm room?”
“Oh, it is in my dressing-room! I do not keep a great deal of snuff, you know. I do not have a room for it, as you do. In general, I buy it as I need it, and keep it where it may be handy.”
The Earl returned some indifferent answer, and soon left the room in search of Judith. He found her presently in the library, choosing a volume from the shelves. She looked over her shoulder when he came in, coloured faintly, but said in a calm voice: “You have such an excellent library: I daresay many thousands of volumes. At Beverly we are sadly lacking in that respect. It is a great luxury to find oneself in a library as well stocked as this.”
“My library is honoured, Miss Taverner,” he answered briefly.
She could not but be aware of the gravity in both face and voice. He was looking stern; there was something of reserve in his tone, quite different from the easy, open manner she was growing used to in him. She hesitated, and then turned more completely towards him, and said with an air of frank resolution: “I am afraid there may be some misconstruction. I have been indulging an absurd flight of fancy, as I believe you may have heard when you came into the saloon just now.”
He did not answer immediately, and when he did at last speak it was with considerable dryness. “I think, Miss Taverner, you will be well advised not to repeat to anyone that you believe Peregrine’s indisposition to be due to the effect of poison.”