‘Yes, you told me,’ replied Audley. ‘What is the news that is all over town?’
A glance at his face convinced Sir Alexander that evasion would not answer. He said, therefore, in a perfectly natural tone: ‘Well, you came in before I had time to ask any questions, but according to Campbell there’s a rumour afloat that Taverner is making a fool of himself over Lady Bab.’
‘That doesn’t seem to me any reason for accusing Bab of breaking up his household.’
‘None at all. But you know what people are.’
‘There’s not a word of truth in it, Gordon.’
‘No.’
There wa
s a note of constraint in Gordon’s voice which Audley was quick to hear. He looked sharply across at his friend, and read concern in his face, and suddenly said: ‘Oh, for God’s sake—! You needn’t look like that! The very notion of such a thing is absurd!’
‘Steady!’ Gordon said. ‘It isn’t my scandal.’
‘I know. I’m sorry. But I am sick to death of this town, and the gossip that goes on in it!’ He sighed, and walked over to the desk, and laid some papers down on it. ‘You had much better tell me, Gordon. What is it now? I suppose you’ve heard talk?’
‘Charles, dear boy, if I had I wouldn’t bring it to you,’ replied Gordon. ‘I don’t know what’s being said, or care.’
Colonel Audley glanced up and suddenly laughed. ‘Damn you, don’t look so sorry for me! What a set you are! I’m the happiest man on earth!’
‘Famous! If you are, stop wearing a worried frown, and try going to bed at night for a change.’ He lounged over to where Audley was standing, and gripped his shoulder, slightly shaking him. ‘Damned fool! Oh, you damned fool!’
‘I daresay. Thank God, I’m not a fat fool, however!’ He drove a friendly punch at Gordon’s ribs. ‘Layers of it! What you need is a nice, hard campaign, my boy, to take some of it off.’
‘Not a chance of it! We’ll be in Paris a month from now. I’ll give you a dinner at a little restaurant I know where they have the best Chambertin in the whole city.’
‘I shall hold you to that. Where is it? I thought I knew all the restaurants in Paris.’
‘Ah, you don’t know this one! It’s in the Rue de—Rue de—confound it, I forget the name of the street, but I shall find it quick enough. Hallo, here’s the Green Baby!’
Lieutenant the Honourable George Cathcart, lately enrolled as an extra aide-de-camp, had come into the room. He owed his appointment to the Duke’s friendship with his father, the British Ambassador at St Petersburg. He was only twenty-one years old, but during the period of Lord Cathcart’s office as military commissioner to the Russian Army, he had acted as his aide-de-camp, and was able to reply now with dignity: ‘I am not a green baby. I have seen eight general actions. And what’s more,’ he added, as the two elder men laughed, ‘Napoleon commanded in them all!’
‘One to you, infant,’ said Audley. ‘You have us on the hip.’
‘Do you think Boney knows he’s with us?’ said Gordon anxiously.
‘Oh, not a doubt of it! He has his spies everywhere.’
‘Ah, then, that accounts for him holding off so long! He’s frightened.’
‘Oh, you—you—!’ Cathcart sought for a word sufficiently opprobrious to describe Sir Alexander, and could find none.
‘Never mind!’ said Gordon. ‘You won’t be the baby much longer. We shall have his Royal Highness the Hereditary Prince of Nassau-Usingen with us soon, and we understand he’s only nineteen.’
‘He can’t be of any use. What the devil do we want him for?’
‘We don’t want him. We’re just having him to lend tone to the family. Charles, are you going to Braine-le-Comte?’
‘Yes, I’m waiting for the letters now. Any message?’
‘No. Such is my nobility of character that I’ll go in your stead. Now, don’t overwhelm me with thanks! Sacrifice is a pleasure to me.’
‘I shan’t. Pure self-interest gleams in your eye. Give my compliments to Slender Billy, and don’t outstay your welcome. Is he giving a dinner party?’
‘This ingratitude! How can you, Charles?’ Gordon said.