But no one can tell how stories get about in these days, and thus, when there was any low-voiced talk or laughter in a corner of the club-room, he grew hot and cold with the terrible suspicion that he was the subject of both. His hatred of Goring grew deeper, and he resolved that he would work him some fatal mischief, if he could.
Through Sir Jasper Dehorsey and Mr. Tom Hawksleigh, a rumour certainly was spread abroad that he had been on the Continent 'with such a stunning girl;' and old Cad (as he was often called) was rather inclined to adopt the soft impeachment, and the idea that 'he was a dog—a gay spark yet—and all that sort of thing, don't you know.'
But when Dehorsey spoke of the affair, he little knew the rank, position, or character of the girl he referred to, and the risks she had run through the brutal selfishness and mischievous spirit of himself and Hawksleigh, when by falsehoods, and in her confusion, they had lured her to the Café au Progrès.
At Chilcote, Archie Auchindoir speedily became master of the news concerning the birthday gift.
'A thousand pounds, my certie, is there as much money in a' the warld!' he exclaimed. 'Troth, Sir Ranald, he that hath routh o' butter may put it on baith sides o' his bannock.'
'I don't know,' said Sir Ranald, peevishly, to Alison, 'why I brought that fellow back again. A Caleb Balderstone is an anachronism in nineteenth century society.'
'He is so good and faithful, papa—dear old Archie.'
'Yes; but, like all such faithful old fellows, he is a shocking tyrant—is too much au fait at all one's private affairs, and deems himself quite a family institution—as much a Cheyne as ourselves.'
But Alison had not the heart to resent Archie's gladness that the gift—whoever it came from—'would keep the wolf from the door,' as she thought it might keep the black hound too!
Archie had a profound dislike of Lord Cadbury, and once he ventured to say to Alison,