--what shall you say to my Lord Carteret?" he asked.

"What concern may that be of yours, sirrah?''

"It will be some concern of yours, my lord."

Mr. Caryll interposed. "The knave is right," said he. "It were to
implicate your lordship. It were to give color to his silly suspicions.
Let him make his search. But be so good as to summon my valet. He shall
hand you my garments that you may do your will upon them. But unless you
justify yourself by finding the letter you are seeking, you shall have
to reckon with the consequences of discomposing a gentleman for nothing.
Now, sir! Is it a bargain?" Mr. Green looked him over, and if he
was shaken by the calm assurance of Mr. Caryll's tone and manner, he
concealed it very effectively. "We'll make no bargains," said he.
"I have my duty to do." He signed to one of the bailiffs. "Fetch the
gentleman's servant," said he.

"So be it," said Mr. Caryll. "But you take too much upon yourself, sir.
Your duty, I think, would have been to arrest me and carry me to
Lord Carteret's, there to be searched if his lordship considered it
necessary."

"I have no cause to arrest you until I find it," Mr. Green snapped
impatiently.

"Your logic is faultless."

"I am following my Lord Carteret's orders to the letter. I am to effect
no arrest until I have positive evidence."

"Yet you are detaining me. What does this amount to but an arrest?"

Mr. Green disdained to answer. Leduc entered, and Mr. Caryll turned to
Lord Ostermore.

"There is no reason why I should detain your lordship," said he, "and
these operations--The lady--" He waved an expressive hand, bent an
expressive eye upon the earl.

Lord Ostermore seemed to waver. He was not--he had never been--a man to
think for others. But Hortensia cut in before he could reply.

"We will wait," she said. "Since you are travelling to town, I am sure
his lordship will be glad of your company, sir."

Mr. Caryll looked deep into those great brown eyes, and bowed his
thanks. "If it will not discompose your lordship--"

"No, no," said Ostermore, gruff of voice and manner. "We will wait. I
shall be honored, sir, if you will journey with us afterwards."

Mr. Caryll bowed again, and went to hold the door for them, Mr. Green's
eyes keenly alert for an attempt at evasion. But there was none. When
his lordship and his ward had departed, Mr. Caryll turned to Rotherby,
who had taken a chair, his man Gaskell behind him. He looked from the
viscount