Mr. Leek eyed him a trifle askance. “That’s right, me lord: gentleman’s gentleman!”
“But only temporarily!” the Earl reminded him.
Mr. Leek was spared the necessity of answering by the sudden arrival of his employer upon the scene. Martin, rounding the angle of the gallery, halted in his tracks, exclaiming: “What the devil brings you here, Leek?” He glanced at the Earl, coloured, and said rather awkwardly: “I am glad to see you out of your room, St. Erth!”
The Earl, on whom the almost imperceptible jerk of the head which dismissed Mr. Leek was not lost, replied amiably: “Thank you, Martin.”
“You will find my mother in the Italian Saloon!” said Martin.
“Again I thank you. Add to your goodness by lending me your arm!”
Martin looked very much surprised, but after a moment’s hesitation he moved forward, and offered his arm. Striving after a natural manner, he said: “I daresay you feel pretty weak still.”
“Oh, no, but it will be well if we are seen to be on excellent terms,” Gervase replied, slipping a hand in his arm, and beginning to stroll with him down the gallery.
The arm stiffened. “Considering you would not allow me to set foot inside your room all these days — ”
“You must make allowances for the whims of an invalid,” said the Earl. “Do tell me what singular merit attaches to your new valet! I feel he must possess some extraordinary attribute, under his rough exterior, which induced you to hire him.”