Mr. Clowne, much startled, exclaimed: “Indeed, if you are right, my lord, I must think it an excellent thing, for I have often thought that Miss Morville would most worthily fill a great position! But I fear — that is, I am sure! — that her ladyship has quite other plans for her stepson!”
The Viscount was amused. “Daresay she has. I wish I may see Ger letting her, or Theo, or me, or — damme, or anyone! — manage his affairs for him! Trouble is, my dear sir, you none of you know Ger!”
“I own, my lord, that that suspicion has once or twice occurred to me,” admitted Mr. Clowne.
“Any other suspicions occurred to you?” asked the Viscount abruptly. “You don’t say much, but it wouldn’t surprise me if you saw more than you’re prepared to blab. What about this man Martin Frant has hired?”
Mr. Clowne, feeling that he was being towed out of his depth, said: “Oh, I feel sure your lordship need not consider Leek! To be sure, he is not to be compared with Studley, but I understand how it was! Mr. Martin, you know, is careless in his dress, but he dislikes to have strangers about him, and I daresay he was glad to hire Hickling’s uncle, when it was suggested to him. Truly, a rough fellow, but I have always found him respectful, and anxious to conform to our ways at Stanyon!”
“Well,” said the Viscount bluntly, “if I had a valet who was always to be found where he had least business, I’d very soon send him packing!”
“My lord!” said the Chaplain, much perturbed. “Your words rouse the gravest apprehensions in my mind!”
“Try if you may rouse them in St. Erth’s mind!” recommended the Viscount. “ I can’t! He will only laugh!”
He spoke gloomily, for he had failed most signally to bring home to the Earl a sense of the danger in which he stood. All Gervase would say was that he found Leek a constant refreshment.
“Ger, it’s my belief the fellow spies on you!”