"My lord!" he cried despairingly, "Will you not at least think of the disgrace to the name an you be caught?"
The shadows vanished from my lord's eyes.
"Mr. Warburton, I protest you are of a morbid turn of mind! Do you know, I had not thought of so unpleasant a contingency? I swear I was not born to be hanged!"
The lawyer would have said more, had not the entrance of a servant, carrying a loaded tray, put an end to all private conversation. The man placed dishes upon the table, lighted candles, and arranged two chairs.
"Dinner is served, sir," he said.
My lord nodded, and made a slight gesture toward the windows. Instantly the man went over to them and drew the heavy curtains across.
My lord turned to Mr. Warburton.
"What say you, sir? Shall it be burgundy or claret, or do you prefer sack?"
Warburton decided in favour of claret.
"Claret, Jim," ordered Carstares, and rose to his feet.