AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘Thank you,’ said the young gentleman. ‘It would be convenient to pay for the hire of a second chaise at the end of the journey. Do you think –’
‘I have no doubt it can be easily arranged,’ said the Earl. ‘My name, by the way, is Reveley.’
‘Reveley,’ repeated the other, committing it to memory.
It was apparent that the name conveyed nothing to him. The Earl, accustomed to see it act upon his world like a kind of talisman, was amused.
‘Yes, Reveley,’ he said. ‘May I have the honour of knowing yours?’
The youth gave a start.
‘Oh, to be sure, yes!’ he replied. ‘It is – it is Brown. Peter Brown.’
The Earl received this rather unconvincing piece of information with unruffled civility, and began to converse amiably upon a number of unexceptionable topics. Cranford Bridge was soon reached, and Peter Brown, catching sight of a milestone, discovered that he was within two miles of Longford. He desired to be set down at the posting-house there, but the Earl, very willing to beguile the tedium of his journey by solving the mystery that clung about his companion, countered with a proposal that he should continue in the chaise as far as Colnbrook, and there dine.
‘I had not thought about dinner,’ said Peter Brown doubtfully. ‘I am in such haste, you see.’
‘But if you don’t dine you will be extremely hungry,’ the Earl pointed out.
A sudden smile, charged with a kind of rueful merriness, lit Peter Brown’s countenance.
‘I am extremely hungry, sir,’ he confessed.
‘Then you must certainly dine with me at Colnbrook,’ said the Earl.
‘You are very good, sir. To be sure, these four horses must cover the distance twice as fast as a pair.’
T
he Earl agreed to it, his gravity a little impaired by a quizzical gleam in his eyes which did not escape his young companion. After a brief pause Peter Brown said in a constrained voice:
‘I dare say you must think my desire to lose no time an odd one.’
‘I feel sure,’ replied the Earl, ‘that you will tell me all about it over dinner.’
‘I am aware that you must feel I owe you an explanation,’ said Peter Brown rather stiffly.
‘No,’ said the Earl, ‘but I might be able to help you.’
‘You are extremely kind, sir.’
‘I am extremely curious,’ corrected the Earl, smiling.
Peter Brown cast him a somewhat wary glance, and said nothing. They had by this time reached the village of Colnbrook, and were driving at a slackened speed down the narrow main street. The chaise drew up at the George, and out came the landlord, while a couple of ostlers ran to the horses’ heads, and the steps were let down.
The landlord bowed so low, there was so much running to and fro, and such a bustle of welcome made that Peter Brown, climbing out of the chaise in the Earl’s wake, was nervously sure that he must be travelling with a person of considerable consequence. He followed his host into the inn, and the landlord conducted them both to a private parlour overlooking the street and began to enumerate the various dishes which could be served up without the least loss of time.
While the Earl was making a selection, young Mr Brown took off his driving cloak and smoothed his fair locks. There was a mirror hanging over the mantelpiece. Mr Brown surveyed himself rather anxiously in it and tried to improve the set of his neckcloth.
The landlord, meanwhile, had produced a bottle of sherry, and glasses. The Earl poured out the wine and, handing one glass to his youthful companion, said:
‘Let us drink to our better acquaintance, Mr Brown.’
Peter Brown disposed of the sherry in two resolute gulps, declined having his glass refilled, and asked the Earl whether he thought he might hire a chaise at this inn.
The Earl looked at him over the rim of his wineglass, and drank before replying. Then he said:
‘Would you like to accept a seat in my chaise instead?’
