Miss Thane said gravely: “I’m lost in admiration of so quick a wit. You never told me he was such an excellent conspirator.”
“Well, truly I did not think that he would be,” confessed Eustacie.
Sir Tristram, ignoring this interchange, said: “In God’s name, Ludovic, what are you doing here?”
“Free trading,” replied Ludovic, with complete sangfroid.
Shield’s face darkened. “Are you jesting?”
“No, no, he really is a smuggler, Cousin Tristram!” said Eustacie earnestly. “It is very romantic, I think. Do not you?”
“No, I do not!” said Shield. “Hasn’t your name been smirched enough, you young fool? Smuggling! And you can lie there and blandly tell me of it!”
“You see!” Eustacie made a disgusted face at Miss Thane.
“Yes, he seems to have no feeling for romance at all,” agreed Sarah.
Ludovic said savagely: “You may be thankful I can do nothing but lie here! Do you think I care whether I’m hanged for a free trader or a murderer? I’m ruined, aren’t I? Then, damn it, I’ll go to the devil my own way!”