‘I hope I may, but I fear my surroundings may give me a nightmare. Where are you quartered, Theo?’
‘Oh, in the Tower! It has come to be considered my particular domain. My bedchamber is above the muniment room, you know.’
‘A day’s march to reach you! It must be devilish uncomfortable!’
‘On the contrary, it suits me very well. I am able to fancy myself in a house of my own, and can enter the Tower by the door into the Chapel Court, if I choose, and so escape being commanded to furnish my aunt with the details of where I have been, or where I am going!’
‘Good God! Will it be my fate to endure such examinations?’
‘My aunt,’ said Theo, with a lurking twinkle, ‘likes to know all that one does, and why one does it.’
‘You terrify me! I shall certainly not remain at Stanyon above a week!’
But his cousin only smiled, and shook his head, and left him to ring for his valet.
When the man came, he brought with him a can of hot water, and a warming-pan. The Earl, staring at this, said: ‘Now, what in thunder are you about?’
‘It appears, my lord,’ responded Turvey, in a voice carefully devoid of expression, ‘that extremely early hours are kept in this house – or, as I apprehend I should say, Castle. The servants have already gone to bed, and your lordship would hardly desire to get between cold sheets.’
‘Thank you, my constitution is really not so sickly as you must think it! Next you will bring me laudanum, as a composer! Set the thing down in the hearth, and don’t be so foolish again, if you please! Have they housed you comfortably?’
‘I make no complaint, my lord. I collect that the Castle is of considerable antiquity.’
‘Yes, parts of it date back to the fourteenth century,’ said the Earl, stripping off his shirt. ‘It was moated once, but the lake is now al
l that remains of the moat.’
‘That, my lord,’ said Turvey, relieving him of his shirt, ‘would no doubt account for the prevailing atmosphere of damp.’
‘Very likely!’ retorted Gervase. ‘I infer that Stanyon does not meet with your approval!’
‘I am sure, a most interesting pile, my lord. Possibly one becomes inured to the inconvenience of being obliged to pass through three galleries and seven doors on one’s way to your lordship’s room.’
‘Oh!’ said the Earl, a trifle disconcerted. ‘It would certainly be better that you should be quartered rather nearer to me.’
‘I was alluding, my lord, to the position of the Servants’ Hall. To reach your lordship’s room from my own, it will be necessary for me to descend two separate stairways, to pass down three corridors; through a door permitting access to one of the galleries with which the Castle appears to be – if I may say so! – somewhat profusely provided; and, by way of an antechamber, or vestibule, reach the court round which this portion of the Castle was erected.’ He waited for these measured words to sink into his master’s brain, and then added, in soothing accents: ‘Your lordship need have no fear, however, that I shall fail to bring your shaving-water in the morning. I have desired one of the under-footmen – a very obliging lad – to act as my guide until I am rather more conversant with my surroundings.’ He paused. ‘Or, perhaps I should say, until your lordship decides to return to London!’
Three
Neither the Dowager nor Miss Morville appeared at the breakfast-table next morning; and although a place was laid for the Chaplain, he had not emerged from his bedchamber when Gervase joined his brother and his cousin in the sunny parlour. His entrance disconcerted Martin, who was fairly embarked on a scathing condemnation of the clothing which he apparently considered suitable for country-wear. Since Gervase was impeccably attired in riding-breeches, top-boots, and a serviceable, if unusually well-cut, frock-coat, Martin’s scornful animadversions became, even in his own ears, singularly inapposite. Theo, who had listened to him in unencouraging silence, smiled slightly at sight of the Earl, and said to his younger cousin: ‘You were saying?’
‘It don’t signify!’ snapped Martin, glowering at him.
‘Good-morning!’ said Gervase. ‘Oh, don’t ring the bell, Theo! Abney knows I am here.’
‘I trust no nightmares, Gervase?’ Theo said quizzically.
‘Not the least in the world. Do either of you know if my horses have yet arrived?’
‘Yes, I understand they came in early this morning, your groom having stayed at Grantham overnight. An old soldier, is he?’
‘Yes, an excellent fellow, from my own Troop,’ replied Gervase, walking over to the side-table, and beginning to carve a large ham there.
‘I say, Gervase, where did you come by that gray?’ demanded Martin.
The Earl glanced over his shoulder. ‘In Ireland. Do you like him?’
‘Prime bit of blood! I suppose you mean to take the shine out of us Melton men with him?’