A Damsel in Distress

ing of brakes and a sputter ofgravel in front of the main entrance of Belpher Castle. The slimand elegant y

Corner, Boots. Notso dusty, what?"His companion m

n addition to the usual features, with a small moustacheand an extra chin. He

, dotted with great oaks and ashes and Spanishchestnuts, orderly, peaceful and English. Nearer, on his left, wererose-gardens, in the centre of which, tilted at a sharp angle,appeared the seat of a pair of corduro

ing day and fanned by a gentle westerly wind, should havebrought balm an

co-operation of Man and Nature, and drew no solace from theref

l scene in Bow StreetPolice Court. The magistrate's remarks, which had been tactless andunsympathetic, still ech

ext cell. . . . Time might soften these memories, might lessen

ngs about his liver, kindlybe-warned-in-time-and-pull-up-before-it-is-too-late things, whichwould have seemed to Percy indecently frank if spoken by hismedical adviser in the privacy of the sick chamber.) It is perhapsnot to be wondered at that Belpher Castle, for all its beauty ofscenery and architecture, should have left Lord Belpher a littlecold. He was seething with a fury which the conversation of ReggieByng ha

ein as they alighte

, "is rather like a b

eness? Or the raspberry? True,the white-haired butler who knew him as a child will sob on hisneck, but

oking matter,"

butler. He was a man of reverend years, portly and dignified, witha respectfully benevolent face that beamed gravely on the youngmaster and Mr. Byng, as if their coming had filled his cup ofpleasure. His light, slightly protruding eyes expressed reverentialgood will. He gave just that touch of cosy humanity to the scenewhich the hall with its half lights and massive furniture needed tomake it perfect to the returned wanderer. He seemed to beintimating that this was a moment to which h

, sir."Lord Belpher acknowledged the salutat

g to do it." Hestepped a little to one side and indica

You'd rather wait till you can

id not worry him. He had long sincecome to the conclusion that Reggie was slightly mad, a theorysupported by the latt

ink into the library, K

e with you."He climbed to the steering wheel, and started the engine. LordBelpher proceeded to the library, while Keggs mel

hisstepmother and Lord Marshmoreton coming towards him from

the old homestead,what?"Beneath Lady Caroline

e's gone to the library. I just decanted himout

l right. All right," said Lord Marshmoretonirrita

s strolling back after putt

ldn't get back last night. Had to stick in town and rally roundold Boots. Couldn't desert the

u mean to say you haven't heard? Of course not. It wouldn'thave been in the morning papers. Why, Percy

ough she could not trace theconnection, she felt that this extraordinary happening must belinked up wi

t not. Menace to Society andall that sort of thing. No holding him. For some u

to Vine Street. Like t

es upon his wrists.' Andthis morning, bright

d Boots down to a reasonable weightand spring him on the National Sporting Club. We've been

m?""Well, I met the mater and his lordship on their way to thelibrary, and it looked to me very much as if the mater must havegot hold of an evening paper on her journey from town. When did shearrive?""Only a short while ago.""Then that's what's happened. She would have bought an eveningpaper to read in the train. By Jove, I wonder if she got hold ofthe one that had the poem about i

boutthe thing at all."Lord Belpher, meanwhile, in the library, had begun with the aid ofa whisky and soda to feel a little better. There was somethingabout the library with its sombre half tones that soothed hisbruised spirit. The room held something of the peace of a desertedcity. The world, with its violent adventures and tall policemen,did not enter here. There was balm in those rows and rows of bookswhich nobody e

se defe

o fall in lovewith a nobody whom she had met without an introduction. Even Reggiehad exhibited at times democratic traits of which she thoroughlydisapproved. But of her nephew Percy she had always been sure. Hewas solid rock. He, at least, she had always felt, would never doanything to injure the family prestige. And now, so to speak, "Lo,Ben Adhem's name led all the rest." In other words, Percy was theworst of the lot. Whatever indiscretions the rest had committed, atleast they had never got the family into the comic columns of theevening papers. Lord Marshmoreton might wear corduroy trousers andrefuse to entertain the County at garden parties and go to bed witha book when it was his duty to act as host at a formal ba

he suddenly discoveredthat some favourite cur

hew, theheir to the title, behaving like a common rowdy i

regain his sister's esteem by a showof righteous indignation. "What do you mean by it, damn it? You'remy only son. I have watched you grow from child to boy, from boy toman, with tender solicitude. I have wanted to be proud of you. Andall the time, dash it, you are prowling about London like a lion,seeking whom you may devour, terrorising the metropolis, puttingharmles

had committed allthe follies of youth, had come to look on his blameless son asscarcely human. "It's not as if you were wild. You've never gotinto any scrapes at Oxford. You've spent your time collecting oldchina and prayer rugs. You wear flannel next your skin . . .""Will you please be quiet," said Lady Caroline impatiently. "Goon, Per

she gotinto a cab. London," he proceeded, warming to the argument andthrilled by the clearness and coherence of his reas

ecab. A man. Aunt Caroline, it was the man.""Good gracious," ejacul

inced of it," proceeded

obvious intention ofscreening whoever was inside from my view. I followed him alongPiccadilly in another cab, and tracked him to the Carlton. When Iarrived there he was standing on the pavement outside. There wereno signs of Maud. I demanded that he tell me her whereabouts. . .""That reminds me," said Lord Marshmoreton cheerfully, "of a story Iread in one of the p

t that moment the fool of a policeman came up and wanted to knowwhat the matter was. I lost my head. I admit it f

was like?""Extremely ordinary-looking. In fact, all I can remember about himwas that he was clean-shaven. I cannot understand how Maud couldhave come to lose her head over such

in Wales was American."There was a portentous silence. Percy stared at the floor. LadyCaroline breathed deeply. Lord Marshmoreton, feel

lieved in starting a conversation well, and putting people atthe

m a thoroughly guiltyconscience. "What's all this I hear about your being the Scourge ofLondon? Reggie says that p

rwrought soul. Lord Marshmoreton, whose thoughtshad wandered off to the rose garden, pul

, a charming picture ofyoung English girlhood

f affectionately to hisbuttonhole, "I went

s sister, he patted hisdaughter's shoulder.) "First, I sent a screecher of a drive rightdown the middle of the fairway. Then I took my brassey and put theball just on the

said Lord Belpher. "Where were you yesterday afternoon?"Maud's gaze was the gaze of

re you doing in Piccadilly yester

rtsman. She put one of those directquestions, capable of being answered only by "Yes" or "No", whi

he customary feminine views upon the LieDirect. As long as it was a question of suppression of the true orsuggestion of the false she had no scruples.

looked at Lord Belpher. Lord

would behappier elsewhere. He had been an acutely embarrassed spectator ofthis distressing scene,

Reggie," said

me look inside the cab. I hadgrasped the handle of the door, when he suddenly struck my hat,causing it to fly off. And, while I was picking it up, he droveaway.""C'k," exploded Lord Marshmoreton. "C'k, c'k, c'k." He twisted hisface by a supreme exertion of will power into a mask ofindignation. "You ought to have had the scoundrel arrested," hesaid veheme

matter broadly--""Be qu

rshmoreto

, "so I jumped into the first cabI s

aintive. She lookedlike a martyr at the stake who deprecatingly lodges a timidcomplaint, fearful the while lest sh

atter? Whywill you not let yourself be guided by those who

too absurd.""Precise

ne turned on

ay.""To my mind," said Lord Marshmoreton, coming to the surface oncemore, "the pro

, and resumed his silent co

self being in love, Au

ith a level head lookingafter you."Lord Ma

y from Oxford and kept me here at Belpherunder lock and key. Lock and key, dammit. I was deucedly upset atthe time, I remember." His mind wandered off into the gloriouspast. "I wonder what that girl's name was. Odd one can't

occasion. There seems nothing to do but totreat Maud in just the same way. You shall not stir a step from thecastle till you have got over this dreadful in

prison make nor iron bar

erience, Percy, my boy,

ation," said Lady Caroline co

She looked like a princess i

him, and nothingis ever going to stop me loving him

m now you will haveforgotten his name. Don't you

things to remember, name

dea it began with an 'L.' Murielor Hilda or something.""Within a year," said Lady Caroline, "you will

reton turned o

It's sapped your brain.""They say prison life often weakens the intellect, father," saidMaud. She moved towards the door and turned the handle. Albert,the page boy, who had been courting earache by listening at thekeyhole, straightened his small body and scut

ile played ov

ths," she murmured softly

?" asked Lord Marsh

penthe drawer of my desk. Watched him do it. Most interesting. Hesmelt rather strongly of a damned bad brand of tobacco. Fellow musthave a throat of leather to be able to smoke the stuff.

he said bitterly, "on the ev