"Ye're welcome to all that ye can find," sneered Mr. Green, and turned to Mr. Caryll. "Let us have your shoes, sir."Mr. Caryll removed his shoes, in silence, and Mr. Green proceeded to examine them in a manner that provoked Mr. Caryll's profound admiration. He separated the lining from the Spanish leather, and probed slowly and carefully in the space between. He examined the heels very closely, going over to the window for the purpose. That done, he dropped them.
"Your breeches now," said he laconically.
Meanwhile Leduc had taken up the coat, and with a needle and thread wherewith he had equipped himself he was industriously restoring the stitches that Mr. Green had taken out.
Mr. Caryll surrendered his breeches. His fine Holland shirt went next, his stockings and what other trifles he wore, until he stood as naked as Adam before the fall. Yet all in vain.
His garments were restored to him, one by one, and one by one, with Leduc's aid, he resumed them. Mr. Green was looking crestfallen.
"Are you satisfied?" inquired Mr. Caryll pleasantly, his good temper inexhaustible.
The spy looked at him with a moody eye, plucking thoughtfully at his lip with thumb and forefinger. Then he brightened suddenly. "There's your man," said he, flashing a quick eye upon Leduc, who looked up with a quiet smile.
"True," said Mr. Caryll, "and there's my portmantle above-stairs, and my saddle on my horse in the stables. It is even possible, for aught you know, that there may be a hollow tooth or two in my head. Pray let your search be thorough."Mr. Green considered him again. "If you had it, it would be upon your person.""Yet consider," Mr. Caryll begged him, holding out his foot that Leduc might put on his shoe again, "I might have supposed that you would suppose that, and disposed accordingly. You had better investigate to the bitter end."Mr. Green's small eyes continued to scrutinize Leduc at intervals. The valet was a silent, serious-faced fellow.
"I'll search your servant, leastways," the spy announced.
"By all means. Leduc, I beg that you will place yourself at this interesting gentleman's disposal."What time Mr. Caryll, unaided now, completed the resumption of his garments, Leduc, silent and expressionless, submitted to being searched.
"You will observe, Leduc," said Mr. Caryll, "that we have not come to this country in vain. We are undergoing experiences that would be interesting if they were not quite so dull, amusing if they entailed less discomfort to ourselves.
Assuredly, it was worth while to cross to England to study manners. And there are sights for you that you will never see in France. You would not, for instance, had you not come hither, have had an opportunity of observing a member of the noblesse seconding and assisting a tipstaff in the discharge of his duty. And doing it just as a hog wallows in foulness -for the love of it.
"The gentlemen in your country, Leduc, are too fastidious to enjoy life as it should be enjoyed; they are too prone to adhere to the amusements of their class. You have here an opportunity of perceiving how deeply they are mistaken, what relish may lie in setting one's rank on one side, in forgetting at times that by an accident - a sheer, incredible accident, I assure you, Leduc - one may have been born to a gentleman's estate."Rotherby had drawn himself up, his dark face crimsoning.
"D'ye talk at me, sir?" he demanded. "D'ye dare discuss me with your lackey?""But why not, since you search me with my tipstaff! If you can perceive a difference, you are too subtle for me, sir."Rotherby advanced a step; then checked. He inherited mental sluggishness from his father. "You are insolent!" he charged Caryll. "You insult me.""Indeed! Ha! I am working miracles."
Rotherby governed his anger by an effort. "There was enough between us without this," said he.
"There could not be too much between us - too much space, Imean."
The viscount looked at him furiously. "I shall discuss this further with you," said he. "The present is not the time nor place. But I shall know where to look for you.""Leduc, I am sure, will always be pleased to see you. He, too, is studying manner's."Rotherby ignored the insult. "We shall see, then, whether you can do anything more than talk.""I hope that your lordship, too, is master of other accomplishments. As a talker, I do not find you very gifted.
But perhaps Leduc will be less exigent than I.""Bah!" his lordship flung at him, and went out, cursing him profusely, Gaskell following at his master's heels.
