----"

"Devil burn your salient angles!"

"But here's Tom now. Tom might join you," suggested the Major with a
meaning glance at his nephew.

"'Twould be a joy, sir!" murmured the Viscount dutifully.

"Why then I'll go get into my boots," nodded the Colonel and strode
from the room.

"Nunky," said the Viscount, rearranging his cravat before the mirror
with scrupulous care, "there are soldiers at Sevenoaks and the man they
seek lieth hid--next door, if I mistake not!"

"Art sure, Pancras?"

"I spoke with Charles himself a while since, and my lady Belinda saw
the soldiers to-day. Question, what's to do, sir?"

"'Tis a problem, nephew, and one requiring a nice judgment. Let me
think! Sergeant, I'll thank you for my Ramillie coat. And she hath
him hid?" enquired the Major, getting into the garment in question.

"Under lock and key, nunky. Charles would have been away ere this for
her sake, but she'd locked him in. You see he is still scarce
recovered of his wound and hardships, and Betty is determined to keep
him till he be quite strong again."

"To be sure!" nodded the Major, fingering the tarnished buttons of his
old campaigning coat. "And she locked him in--'twas like her! As for
the soldiers, Tom, having traced him so far, they will be here next
'tis sure and her house will be searched first, of course."

"Gad sir!" exclaimed the Viscount, striding to and fro in sudden
perturbation. "You take it devilish calm and serene! If they search
there they'll find him beyond doubt----"

"Not so, Tom, I'll see to that."

"You sir--how?"

"He shall come here."

"Here nunky--here in this house--with Colonel Cleeve your guest?"

"Precisely, Tom--I must hide him under old George's honest nose. 'Tis
irregular, as 'twere--aye, 'tis vastly irregular, and yet----" Here
there rose a distant roaring, a hoarse and intermittent clamour.

"Gad love us!" exclaimed the Viscount, starting, "what's here?"

"'Tis only George roaring for thee, Tom."

"And the horses are at the door, my lud!" added the Sergeant, glancing
from the window.

"So begone, Tom and----"

"No no, sir, I'll stay and aid you with----"

"Nay, look'ee Tom, you ride to Sevenoaks with George. You learn
precisely when the soldiers march for Westerham and, if need be, you
make your excuses and ride back to warn me of their coming. Your
dapple-grey is the fastest thing on four legs and--ah, George--I do but
stay my nephew to give him certai