One of Our Conquerors - World eBook Library

Strolling to his quarters along the breezy parade at night,
he proposed to himself, that he would breathe an immediate
caution to Nesta. How had she come to know this Mrs.
Marsett? But he was more seriously thinking of what Colney
Durance called ‘The Mustard Plaster’; the satirist’s phrase
for warm relations with a married fair one: and Dartrey, clear
of any design to have it at his breast, was beginning to take
intimations of pricks and burns. They are an almost positive
cure of inflammatory internal conditions. They were really
hard on him, who had none to be cured.
The hour was nigh midnight. As he entered his hotel, the
porter ran off to the desk in his box, and brought him a
note, saying, that a lady had left it at half-past nine. Left
it?—Then the lady could not be the alarming lady. He was
relieved. The words of the letter were cabalistic; these, beneath
underlined address:
‘I beg you to call on me, if I do not see you this evening. It
is urgent; you will excuse me when I explain. Not late tomorrow.
I am sure you will not fail to come. I could write
what would be certain to bring you. I dare not trust any
names to paper.’
The signature was, Judith Marsett.
One of Our Conquerors
290
CHAPTER XXXI
SHOWS HOW THE SQUIRES IN A
CONQUEROR’S SERVICE HAVE AT TIMES
TO DO KNIGHTLY CONQUEST OF
THEMSELVES
BY THE VERY EARLIEST of the trains shot away to light and
briny air from London’s November gloom, which knows the
morning through increase of gasjets, little Skepsey was hurried
over suburban chimneys, in his friendly third-class carriage;
where we have reminders of ancient pastoral times
peculiar to our country, as it may chance; but where a man
may speak to his neighbour right off without being deemed
offensive. That is homely. A social fellow knitting closely to
his fellows when he meets them, enjoys it, even at the cost of
uncushioned seats he can, if imps are in him, merryandrew
as much as he pleases; detested punctilio does not reign there;
he can proselytize for the soul’s welfare; decry or uphold the
national drink; advertize a commercial Firm deriving prosperity
from the favour of the multitude; exhort to patrio-