The Bars of Iron

hall of the Abbey, Sir B

ery white. He had the shoulders of a strong man, albeit they were slightly bowed. His face, clean-shaven, aristocratic, was the colour of old ivory. The thin lips we

ng, for his eyes were fixed. The shining suits of armour standing lik

r end of the hall, and instantly and ve

ie

forward as he spoke. "Here I am, sir! I'm sorry I'm late. You shouldn'

" burst forth Sir Beverley. "It's e

ays," sa

a boyish arm around the bent shoulders. "Don't be

"I detest being pawed about, as you very well know. In Heaven's name,

Piers. "If you d

ious hand towards a table on the other side of

a fool,"

newspaper with the words. "And you'll never be anything

, olive face, however. He looked perfectly contented. He turned round after a few seconds with a cu

it, sir," he urged. "Ha

Sir Beverley, witho

ss. "I wish you hadn't waited, though it was jolly decent of you. Y

. "About a cub like you! You f

ley read on for a few moments, then very suddenly and not wi

he exclaimed. "Now what the devil have you

houldn't have come in in this state, only it wa

hed to the skin! Go and change! Go and change! Don't

d Piers flung round on his he

impertinence from you, you were never more mistaken in your life. Be off with yo

slightly compressed as he went up the stairs, but befo

ed in laying out his evening clothes, re

ieur Pierre, ho

t it quick! I must be down again in t

ortnight of that young man's existence, and he worshipped him with a whole-hearted devotion that was in its

ally upon their soaked condition, but Piers was in too great a hurry to give any details regarding the cause of his plight. He w

e hall, the gay whistle still on his lips, and tr

nees on the hearth-rug and turned a sc

ish disarming smile. "Have you had your tea, sir? O

ght sight of a cup pushed close to the

," said Sir Be

m by the shoulders. "You're a dear o

there! What an infant you are! Sit down and have it for

d yours?"

is grandson's hold, though not urgently. "I'm not so keen on your precious tea," he said, seating

he cup of tea and was sniffing it suspiciou

"I'm not going to have you laid up with rheumatic

rebellion, then abruptly he raised the cup to his lips a

on't blend well. I shall sleep like a hog after this. Besides, I shouldn't

disgustedly. "There's t

ers looked up wit

fellow Adderley-killed his man in a wrestling-matc

gave me some quite useful tips once. What

brainless fool must needs write an article a column and a half long to protest against the disgraceful practice of permitting wrestling or boxing matches, which are a survival of the Dark Ages and a perpetual menace to our civilization! A survival of your grandmother! A nice set of

eded to study it with drawn brows, and Sir Beverley sat and watched hi

pets, boy!" he

t, sir, in a minute. This is rather an interesting

eet him?" deman

hbourhood. It was just before I left for my year of travel. I go

to break your oppone

ley d

the paper he held. "They were-worth knowing," he said, with his eyes upon the she

of a lengthy pause he laid the paper aside. "I

!" said Sir Bever

to eat. He stared at the blaze as

" said Sir Be

eyes of his so suggestive of hidden fire. "I wasn't-dreaming," he

murderer," snapp

me silent as though he were foll

ed Sir Beverley. "I detest a

hanging in my opinion is much the easier sentence of t

ir Beverley sounded s

the world," he said, "though it's only the few who get punished. I'm sorr

you're talking abou

ave been at it now if we had been left to our own devices." He broke into his sudden boyish laugh. "But a kind lady came out of the Vicarage garden and flung the contents of a bedroom jug over the thr

rley suspiciously. "Not that l

was a woman, not an owl. Her name is Denys-Mrs. Denys she was careful to inform me. They've started a mothe

. "Daresay she knows how to feat

er head in an emergency,

nct," jeered

gh in his dark eyes. "And feli

ever brook an argument. "Oh, get away,

and there fell a lengthy silence. He rose finally to set

isonous by now,"

oison me,"

arth-rug. "I suppose I may smoke?"

back in his chair, ga

eached out a

s," he said. "You may do

"You're a brick, sir!" he said. "Look here! Come along to the billiar

est. They stood together before the great fire, and Sir Beverley stra

"Why can't you sit still and be quiet? Don't y

hand as he spoke and tossed it recklessly on to t

Beverley, pausing. "Do you want to set the

, curious vehemence. "A damn fool sir, if you

umbled to ashes. Sir Beverley su

taking 'em altogether, I should say there are a

u, sir,"