LORD OF MANY SECRETS

FORTY THREE

Miss Tellaro was gazing at a milliner's window on the opposite side of the road, apparently rapt in admiration of a yellow satin bonnet embossed with orange leopard-spots, and bound with a green figured ribbon, but at Mrs Andromeda's next words she turned her head and unwillingly paid attention to what was being said.

"I am excessively glad to have fallen in with you, Gabriel", Mrs Andromeda declared. "I have been wanting to ask you these three days what you were about to let Parte tie himself up in this fashion. Not that I have a word to say against Miss Mamala, I am sure she is perfectly amiable, a delightful girl! But you know he might do much better for himself. How came you to be giving your consent so readily?"

He said lazily, "I must have been in an uncommonly good temper, I suppose. Don't you like the match?"

"It is respectable, but not brilliant, and I must say, Clements, I think Parte much too young".

He made no reply. Miss Tellaro raised her eyes to his face. "Do you think it wise to let him be married yet, Miss Tellaro", replied Clements.

The carriage began to move forward. Elizabeth said, "now that it has been so publicly announced it must be a settled thing".

"Oh, by no means", said Clements. "A dozen things might happen to prevent it".

"He cannot in honor turn back from an engagement".

"True, but I might turn him back from it if I thought it proper to do so", said the Earl.

"If you do not like the engagement why did you permit him to enter into it?" asked Miss Tellaro rather sternly.

"Because I had not the slightest desire to see him persuade Miss Mamala into a runaway match", replied Clements.

She frowned. "I am to understand that you don't wish to see him married?"

"Not at all. Why should I?" He turned to address the coachman, desiring to be set down at the corner. The carriage turned into Piccadilly, and stopped. He got out, and stood for a moment with his hand on the door. His face softened as he looked at Miss Tellaro, but he only said, "believe me, I have your affairs well in hand. Where do you do from here? Shall I direct your coachman?"

"Oh, we are going to look at the new bridge across the river", said Mrs Andromeda. "But who knows. Well, I am glad we met you, and I have no doubt there is a great deal in what you say. You are off to White's, I suppose? I am sure I do not know what you gentlemen would do if there were no clubs to spend the day in!"

He returned to answer to this observation, but merely bowed and stepped back.

"Well, my love", said Mrs Andromeda as the carriage moved on, "you may say what you will, but expecting only Mr Alexandra, there is no one in town who dresses so well as Clements! Such an air of fashion! I believe you may see your face in his boots as well as in your mirror".

"I have never denied Lord Clements' ability to be in the mode", replied Miss Tellaro indifferently. "The only thing that surprises me is to see him come out of a boxing saloon".

"Oh, my dear, I daresay he went only to accompany Colonel Anderson", said Mrs Andromeda excusingly.

"More than likely", agreed Elizabeth, with a contemplatuous smile.

Patrick, who had entered the saloon as Clements was on the point of leaving, had also been surprised. That his lordship had been indulging in sparring exercise was evident, for he was just coming out of the changing room, and had paused in the doorway to exchange a few words with Mr Clarkson. He caught sight of Patrick at the other end of the Saloon, nodded to him, and said, "how does that ward of mine shape, Clarkson?"

Clarkson glanced over his shoulder. "Sir Patrick Tellaro, my lord? Well, he shows game, always ready to take the lead, you know, but sometimes rather glaringly abroad. Good bottom, but not enough science. Do you care to see him in a round or two?"

"God forbid!" said Clements. "I can well imagine it. Tell me, Clarkson, could you lay your hand on a promising young heavyweight who would be glad to earn a little money out of the way - not in the Ring?"

Clarkson looked at him rather curiously. "Boa knows most of the young ones, my lord. Lads thankful to be fighting for a purse of five guineas - is that it?" Clements nodded. "Any number of them to be found", Clarkson said. "You know that, my lord. But do you stand in need of one?"

"It has just occurred to me that I might", said the Earl, negligently playing with his gloves. "I'll see Boa". He turned as Colonel Anderson came out of the changing room. "Are you ready, Anderson?"

"I suppose I am", replied the Colonel, who was looking very hot. "I'll swear you've sweated pounds off of me, Clarkson. I don't know how you both contrive to look so cool".

The ex-champion smiled. "His lordship was taking it very easily today".

"What, fighting shy?" said the Colonel, with a twinkle.

"No, not shy, just trifling", said Clarkson. "But you should be coming to me more regularly, Colonel. It was bellows to mend with you after three minutes of it, and I don't like those plunges of yours".

"Trying to land you a facer, Clarkson", grinned the Colonel.

"You won't do it successfully like that, sir", said Clarkson, shaking his head. "If you'll excuse me, gentlemen, I'll go over and set Mr Fritzwa to a little singlestick with one of my young men".

"Oh ay, we're just off", said Anderson. "Are you coming, Clements?"

"Yes, I'm coming", answered the Earl. He looked at Clarkson. "Do what you can with my ward. And, Clarkson, by the way - on that other matter, I feel sure I can rely on your discretion".

"You can always be sure of that, my lord".