The old Lord’s troubled eyes looked into mine. I think he was beginning to regret this impulsive experiment of his. He tried a new tack with me.
“Of course there is a risk. We may not win. Perhaps you do well to think of the consequences. As you say, heads may fall because of the rising.”
The dye flooded my cheeks.
“You might have spared me that, my Lord. I am thinking of the blood of innocent people that must be spilled.”
“Your joining us will neither help nor hinder that.”
“And your not joining us will have deucedly unpleasant effects for you,” suggested O’Sullivan pleasantly.
Lord Balmerino flung round on him angrily, his hand on sword hilt. “I think you have forgotten one thing, Mr. O’Sullivan.”
“And that is——?”
“That Mr. Montagu came here as my guest. If he does not care to join us he shall be free as air to depart.”
O’Sullivan laughed hardily. “Shall he? Gadzooks! The Chevalier O’Sullivan will have a word to say with him first. He did not come as any guest of mine. What the devil! If you were not sure of him, why did you bring him?”