Page 70 of The Corinthian

‘Well, I don’t think he meant it to be a compliment,’ said Pen doubtfully.

He smiled but said nothing. The waiter came back into the room with a laden tray, and began to set various dishes on thetable. When he had withdrawn, Sir Richard pulled a chair out for Pen, and said: ‘You are served, brat. Hungry?’

‘Not very,’ she replied, sitting down.

He moved to his own place. ‘Why, how is this?’

‘Well, I don’t know. Piers is going to elope with Lydia at midnight.’

‘I trust that circumstance has not taken away your appetite?’

‘Oh no! I think they will deal famously together, for they are both very silly.’

‘True. What had you to do with their elopement?’

‘Oh, very little, I assure you, sir! Lydia made up her mind to do it without any urging from me. All I did was to hire the post-chaise for Piers, on account of his being well-known in Keynsham.’

‘I suppose that means that we shall be obliged to sustain another visit from Major Daubenay. I seem to be plunging deeper and deeper into a life of crime.’

She looked up enquiringly. ‘Why, sir? You have done nothing!’

‘I am aware. But I undoubtedly should do something.’

‘Oh no, it is all arranged! There is truly nothing left to do.’

‘You don’t think that I – as one having reached years of discretion – might perhaps be expected to nip this shocking affair in the bud?’

‘Tell the Major, do you mean?’ Pen cried. ‘Oh, Richard, you would not do such a cruel thing? I am persuaded you could not!’

He refilled his glass. ‘I could, very easily, but I won’t. I am not, to tell you the truth, much interested in the affairs of a pair of lovers whom I have found, from the outset, extremely tiresome. Shall we discuss instead our own affairs?’

‘Yes, I think we ought to,’ she agreed. ‘I have been so busy today I had almost forgot the stammering man. I do trust, Richard, we shall not be arrested!’

‘Indeed, so do I!’ he said, laughing.

‘It’s very well to laugh, but I could see that Mr Philips did not like us at all.’

‘I fear that your activities disarranged his mind. Fortunately, news has reached him that a man whom I suspect of being none other than the egregious Captain Trimble has been taken up by the authorities in Bath.’

‘Good gracious, I never thought he would be caught! Pray, had he the necklace?’

‘That, I am as yet unable to tell you. It is to be hoped that Luttrell and his bride will not prolong their honeymoon, since I fancy Lydia will be wanted to identify the prisoner.’

‘If she knew that, I dare say she would never come back at all,’ said Pen.

‘A public-spirited female,’ commented Sir Richard.

She giggled. ‘She has no spirit at all. Itoldyou so, sir! Will the – the authorities wish to see me?’

‘I hardly think so. In any event, they are not going to see you.’

‘No, I must say I feel it might be excessively awkward if I were forced to appear,’ remarked Pen. ‘In fact, sir, I think – I think I had better go home, don’t you?’

He looked at her. ‘To your Aunt Almeria, brat?’

‘Yes, of course. There is nowhere else for me to go.’

‘And Cousin Fred?’