So ended this episode of excitement and peril, after which the three Englishmen, to whom every species of apology was tendered—after due explanation given—were conducted by the armed night watch back to their hotel, and once more quietness settled over the little city of Lubeck.
CHAPTER XIX.
SIR CARNABY'S GRATITUDE.
Save that he had got a terrible shaking, a few blows, and considerable fright, Sir Carnaby Collingwood, thanks to Trevor Chute and his servant, was not much the worse and between his draughts of iced seltzer and brandy, he sputtered and threatened the whole city of Lubeck with our ambassador at Berlin, and to have the outrage of the night brought 'before the House' as soon as he returned to town; while Lady Evelyn, filled with genuine admiration of the pluck shown by Chute, his manly and generous bearing, and with gratitude for the manner in which he had assuredly saved the life of her caro sposo, became his most ardent ally; but as he and Sir Carnaby lingered over their wine that night he felt—and still more next day—the weight of the many blows and buffets of which he had been quite unconscious at the time they were so freely bestowed upon him.
'Egad, Chute,' chuckled Sir Carnaby, 'didn't think you and I should ever figure like two heroes in a melodrama; by Jove—absurd, don't you know—but those Germans are beastly fellows. The moselle stands with you. We have had nothing here,' he continued, laughing with more genuine heartiness than was usual to him, for his feelings had undergone a revulsion—'we have had nothing here but mistakes and scenes—actually scenes. I refused you Clare, and you make off, per train, with Lady Evelyn. I was most unkind to you, and you act generously by returning good for exceeding evil.'
Trevor was so unused to this tone from Sir Carnaby that his heart swelled with mingled hope and anticipation, joy and sadness, as he said:
'I am only thankful to Heaven that I was here to-night, and able to be of service to you.'
'Service—egad, my dear fellow, you have saved my life!'
'The consciousness of that rewards me for more than one past misfortune.'
'Ah, you mean those which caused you to leave the Guards?'