The Amateur Gentleman Part 91

Therefore this brook must needs give up attempting the impossible, and betake itself to offensive chuckles and spiteful whisperings, and would have babbled tales to the d.u.c.h.ess had that remarkable, ancient lady been versed in the language of brooks. As it was, she came full upon Master Milo still intent upon the heavens, it is true, but in such a posture that his b.u.t.tons stared point-blank and quite unblushingly towards a certain clump of willows.

"Oh Lud!" exclaimed the d.u.c.h.ess, starting back, "dear me, what a strange little boy! What do you want here, little man?"

Milo of Crotona turned and--looked at her. And though his face was as cherubic as ever, there was haughty reproof in every b.u.t.ton.

"Who are you?" demanded the d.u.c.h.ess; "oh, gracious me, what a pretty child!"

Surely no cherub--especially one in such knowing top-boots--could be reasonably expected to put up with this! Master Milo's innocent brow clouded suddenly, and the expression of his glittering b.u.t.tons grew positively murderous.

"I'm Viscount Devenham's con-fee-dential groom, mam, I am!" said he coldly, and with his most superb air.

"Groom?" said the d.u.c.h.ess, staring, "what a very small one, to be sure!"

"It ain't inches as counts wiv 'osses, mam,--or hany-think else, mam, --it's nerves as counts, it is."

"Why, yes, you seem to have plenty of nerve!"

"Well, mam, there ain't much as I trembles at, there ain't,--and when I do, I don't show it, I don't."

"And such a pretty child, too!" sighed the d.u.c.h.ess.

"Child, mam? I ain't no child, I'm a groom, I am. Child yourself, mam!"

"Lud! I do believe he's even paying me compliments! How old are you, boy?"

"A lot more 'n you think, and hoceans more 'n I look, mam."

"And what's your name?"

"Milo, mam,--Milo o' Crotona, but my pals generally calls me Tony, for short, they do."

"Milo of Crotona!" repeated the d.u.c.h.ess, with her eyes wider than ever, "but he was a giant who slew an ox with his fist, and ate it whole!"

"Why, mam, I'm oncommon fond of oxes,--roasted, I am."

"Well," said the d.u.c.h.ess, "you are the very smallest giant I ever saw."

"Why, you ain't werry large yourself, mam, you ain't."

"No, I fear I am rather pet.i.te," said the d.u.c.h.ess with a trill of girlish laughter. "And pray, Giant, what may you be doing here?"

"Come up on the coach, I did,--box seat, mam,--to take Mr. Beverley back wiv me 'cause 'is 'oss ain't safe, and--"

"Not safe,--what do you mean, boy?"

"Some coves got in and tried to n.o.bble 'Moonraker' and 'im--"

"n.o.bble, boy?"

"Lame 'em, mam,--put 'em out o' the running."

"The wretches!"

"Yes'm. Ye see us sportsmen 'ave our worritting times, we do."

"But where is Mr. Beverley?"

"Why, I ain't looked, mam, I ain't,--but they're down by the brook--behind them bushes, they are."

"Oh, are they!" said the d.u.c.h.ess, "Hum!"

"No mam,--'e's a-coming, and so's she."

"Why, Barnabas," cried the d.u.c.h.ess, as Cleone and he stepped out of the shadow, "what's all this I hear about your horse,--what is the meaning of it?"

"That I must start for London to-night, d.u.c.h.ess."

"Leave to-night? Absurd!"

"And yet, madam, Cleone seems to think I must, and so does Viscount Devenham,--see what he writes." So the d.u.c.h.ess took the Viscount's letter and, having deciphered it with some difficulty, turned upon Barnabas with admonishing finger upraised:

"So you 've been betting, eh? And with Sir Mortimer Carnaby and Mr. Chichester of all people?"

"Yes, madam."

"Ah! You backed the Viscount, I suppose?"

"No,--I backed myself, d.u.c.h.ess."

"Gracious goodness--"

"But only to beat Sir Mortimer Carnaby--"

"The other favorite. Oh, ridiculous! What odds did they give you?"

"None."

"You mean--oh, dear me!--you actually backed yourself--at even money?"

"Yes, d.u.c.h.ess."

"But you haven't a chance, Barnabas,--not a chance! You didn't bet much, I hope?"

"Not so much as I intended, madam."

"Pray what was the sum?"

"Twenty thousand pounds."