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"Perhaps ye will have the goodness to unmask?"
There was a momentary silence.
"Why, sir, I thought ye might allow me to keep it on?"
"Did ye now? I will not be allowing any such thing."
"But, sir--"
"'Tis impossible. Off with it!"
"Sir--"
"If ye don't take it off, I shall ask these men to assist ye," warnedMiles.
"May I not speak with ye alone, sir?" pleaded Jack. By now O'Hara wasgreatly intrigued.
"Ye may not. Unmask!" He was leaning half across the table, his eyesfixed on Jack's face.
With a quaint little laugh that made O'Hara's brows contract swiftly, mylord shrugged his shoulders French fashion and obeyed. The mask and hatwere tossed lightly on to the table, and Miles found himself gazing intoa pair of blue eyes that met his half defiantly, half imploringly. Hedrew in his breath sharply and the thin ivory rule he held snappedsuddenly between his fingers. And at that crucial moment a door behindhim that had stood ajar was pushed open, and my Lady O'Hara cametripping into the room.
The two gaolers and her husband turned at once to see who it was, whileJack, who had recognised her, but had not the least idea who she was,fell to dusting his boots with his handkerchief.
O'Hara rose, and for once looked severe.
"What--" he began, and stopped, for without so much as a glance at him,my lady ran towards the prisoner, crying:
"Harry! Oh, Harry!"
Jack gathered that he was the person addressed, and instantly made heran elaborate leg.
The next moment she was tugging at the lapels of his coat, with her faceupturned to his.
"Harry, you WICKED boy!" she cried, and added beneath her breath: "Myname is Molly!"
A laugh sprang to my lord's eyes and his beautiful smile appeared.
In a stupefied fashion O'Hara watched him steal an arm about her waist,and place a hand beneath her chin. The next instant a kiss was plantedfull on the little lady's lips, and he heard Jack Carstares' voiceexclaim:
"Fie on you, Molly, for a spoil-sport! Here had I fooled Miles to thetop of my bent--and 'pon rep.! he scarce knows me yet!"
My lady disengaged herself, blushing.
"Oh, Miles, you do know Harry--my cousin Harry?"
O'Hara collected his scattered wits and rose nobly to the occasion.
"Of course I do, me dear, though at first he gave me such a shock, I wasnear dumbfounded. Ye are a mad, scatter-brained fellow to play such athrick upon us, devil take ye!" He laid his hands on Jack's shoulders."Pray, what did ye do it for, boy?"
Jack's brain worked swiftly.
"Why, Miles, never tell me you've forgot our wager! Did I not swear I'dhave you at a disadvantage--to be even with you for that night atJasper's? But what must you do but see my pistol was unloaded and makeme lose my wager! Still, 'twas worth that and a night in gaol to seeyour face when I unmasked!"
O'Hara shook him slightly, laughing, and turned to the two amazedgaolers. The senior gaoler met his humorous glance with a cold andindignant stare, and gave a prodigious sniff.
"Me good fellows," drawled Miles, "I'm mighty sorry ye've been worriedover me young cousin here. He's fooled us all it appears, but nowthere's nought to be done in the matter, though I've a mind to send himto await the next sessions!" He slipped a guinea into each curiouslyready palm, and replied to the head gaoler's haughty bow with a pleasantnod. In silence he watched them leave the room shaking their heads overthe incomprehensible ways of the gentry. Then he turned and lookedacross at Carstares.
CHAPTER X
