“Oh!” exclaimed Miss Thane, “have you not heard, then? Has Sir Tristram not told you of the shocking attempt to rob you last night? I declare I shall not know how to go to bed this evening!”
“No,” said the Beau slowly. “No. He has not told me. Is it possible that my house was broken into?”
“Exactly,” nodded Sir Tristram. “If your servants are to be believed a band of desperate ruffians entered through the library window.”
“Yes,” chimed in Miss Thane, “and only fancy, Mr Lavenham! Sir Tristram had been dining with us here, and was riding back to the Court when he heard shots coming from the Dower House. You may imagine his amazement! I am sure you should be grateful to him, for he instantly rode up to the house. You may depend upon it, it was the noise of his arrival which frightened the wretches into running away.”
The glance the Beau cast at his cousin was scarcely one of gratitude. He had turned rather pale, but he said in quite level tones: “I am indeed grateful. What a fortunate chance that you should have been passing the house just at that moment, Tristram! I suppose none of these rogues was apprehended?”
“I fear not,” replied Shield. “By the time I entered the house there was no sign of them. There had been (as you will see for yourself presently) a prodigious struggle in the library—quite a mill, I understand. I am afraid your fellows were much knocked about. In fact, your butler,” he pursued, stooping to put another log on the fire, “welcomed my advent with profound relief.”
“No doubt!” said the Beau, breathing rather quickly. “I do not doubt it!”
“The poor butler!” said Miss Thane, with a tinkling laugh. “I am sure I do not wonder he should be alarmed! He must feel you to be his preserver, Sir Tristram. He will be doubly glad to exchange his masters!”
The Beau looked at her. “I beg your pardon, ma’am?”
Miss Thane said: “I only meant, since he was about to enter Sir Tristram’s service—”