“Oh, but I am glad I didn’t know it!” gasped the Duke, wiping his eyes. “Yes, I know you think it ought to be a lesson to me in future to ask my big cousin’s advice, but I would not have missed my adventures for a fortune!”
“No,” said Gideon, regarding him under his drooping eyelids. “I have a notion you are not going to ask anyone’s advice in the future, Adolphus. Shall you be sorry to return to all your dignities?”
“Yes—no! I had a most diverting time, but some of it was most uncomfortable, and I own that I do not care to be without a valet, or a change of raiment! I do trust that Scriven will not delay to send someone here with my baggage!”
“I fancy you need not be anxious on that head,” said Gideon dryly. “What ismore, I have my own guess as to who will appear in Bath before we are much older!”
“Good God! Not my uncle? What the devil shall I do with him, if you are right? I must find this fellow, Mudgley, and I am sure my uncle will be the greatest hindrance to me!”
Gideon’s eyes gleamed appreciatively at the unconscious change in his cousin which made it possible for him to contemplate the possibility of his being able to do anything at all with Lord Lionel, but he replied gravely: “You had best send him to join your new friend at Cheyney.”
“Yes, I think I had,” said the Duke, quite seriously. “He dislikes hotels, so perhaps he will choose to go there. I wonder, will he think Mamble preferable to the damp sheets he is convinced all landlords put upon their beds? And then there is Liversedge! Gideon, I charge you most straitly not to say one word to your father about Liversedge! He would raise such a breeze! And for heaven’s sake, try to think of some plausible tale for me to fob him off with! It would never do for him to know the truth,”
“Turning him up sweet? You won’t do it!”
“I must do it. There is Matt to be thought of, remember! But first I do think I should get rid of Mamble. If he stays in Bath I shall never be able to shake him off. Gideon, you shall drive him and Tom out to Cheyney for me tomorrow!”
Gideon groaned. “And tell Tom how I got my wound? I thank you!”