Matthew accepted the wine, and drank some. “No. I did mean—that is to say, I half thought that I might, if all else failed—But you know what Gideon is!” He saw a surprised look on the Duke’s face, and added: “Oh, well, I daresay you don’t, for he likes you! But he has a damned cutting tongue! What’s more, he is for ever roasting me about something or other, and I’d as lief—However, if you think I ought to tell him—”
“No, I don’t,” said Gilly, with sudden decision. “It has nothing whatsoever to do with Gideon!” His eyes began to dance. “I must learn to manage for myself: my uncle said so!”
“Oh, Gilly, don’t start funning!” begged Matthew. “It ain’t your affair any more than it is Gideon’s!”
“But it is my affair! You said as much yourself!” Gilly pointed out. “Liversedge knows well you could not afford to pay him half of such a sum, or my Uncle Henry either! You may depend upon it he has acquainted himself very perfectly with the circumstances. It’s my belief the whole thing was a deep-laid plot, down to the girl’s dropping her reticule when you were passing! I am the pigeon he means to pluck! Very well, then! I’ll attend to the matter myself, and I think I must be a great fool if I allow myself to be plucked by a person who cannot write the King’s English!”
“But, good God, Gilly, what are you meaning to do?” demanded Matthew.
“I am not very sure yet,” confessed the Duke, “but don’t worry. Matt! Whatever happens I won’t let it come to your father’s ears, or my Uncle Lionel’s either! Where does this fellow write from?” He picked up one of the letters as he spoke. “The Bird in Hand—yes, but I am not a bird in hand, Mr. Liversedge! Address to the receiving-office at Baldock. I suppose he fetches his letters. But why Baldock? I should have thought he would have lurked in London! Perhaps he has his reasons for not coming within reach of Bow Street. Very likely that is so, for if ever I smelled a Greek—!”
“Did you?” asked Matthew sceptically.
“Oh, lord, yes, very adroit ones too! A young man with my fortune draws ’em like a magnet. They clustered round me when I was upon my travels—until they had taken Belper’s measure! Poor Belper! he had his uses!”
Matthew sat up. “Gilly, do you think perhaps Belper would—?”
“No, certainly not! We shall keep this strictly within the family. Besides, it is the only time I have ever had the chance of doing anything for myself!”