The pursuivants advanced to the steps. Then Mr. Buxton turned fiercely on them all.
“See here!” he cried, and his voice rang out across the garden. “You bring me here, Mr. Graves, promising me a little peace and quietness, after your violent and unwarranted attack upon my house to-day. I have been patient and submissive to all suggestions; I leave my entire house at your disposal; I promise to lay no complaints before her Grace, so long as you will let me retire here till it is over—and now your men persecute me even here. Have you no mind of your own, sir?” he shouted.
“Really, sir——” began Hubert.
“And as for you, Mr. Maxwell,” went on the other fiercely, “are you not content with your triumph so far? Cannot you leave me one corner to myself, or would your revenge be not full enough for you, then?”
“You mistake me, sir,” said Hubert, making a violent effort to control himself; “I am on your side in this matter.”
“That is what I am beginning to think,” said Lackington insolently.
“You think!” roared Mr. Buxton; “and who the devil are you?”
“See here, gentlemen,” said Mr. Nichol, “what is the dispute? Here is an empty house, Mr. Buxton tells us; and Mr. Maxwell tells us the same. Well, then, let these honest fellows run through the empty house; it will not take ten minutes, and Mr. Buxton and his friend can take the air meanwhile. A-God’s name, let us not dispute over a trifle.”
“Then, a-God’s name, let me go to my own house,” bellowed Mr. Buxton, “and these gentlemen can have the empty house to disport themselves in till doomsday—or till her Grace looks into the matter”; and he made a motion to run down the steps, but his heart sank. Mr. Graves put out a deprecating hand and touched his arm; and Mr. Buxton very readily turned at once with a choleric face!
“No, no, no!” cried the magistrate. “These gentlemen are here on my warrant, and they shall not search the place. Mr. Buxton, I entreat you not to be hasty. Come back, sir.”