The Queen's Scarlet Part 27

"Don't stop," whispered the lieutenant. "Order some beer."

With the reason beginning to dawn upon him now, d.i.c.k ordered and paid for two pots of ale, which he handed to the two half-tipsy soldiers, who began proposing their health just as steps and voices were heard pa.s.sing.

The next minute they were outside.

"A false alarm, Smithson," said the lieutenant, with a forced laugh, as he dabbed his forehead. "I caught a glimpse of them lower down; I thought it was the major and the doctor. How absurd it all seemed. You don't think those two fellows will talk about it?"

"Well, sir, I can't help thinking they will," replied d.i.c.k.

"That will be awkward," said the lieutenant in dismay. "They ought to have been in barracks; and they may excuse themselves by saying that I was treating them at a public-house."

"Yes, sir, it will be awkward," said d.i.c.k, who felt annoyed and yet amused.

"It will look so ungentlemanly. You see, they were both men belonging to my company. Whatever shall I do?"

"Nothing, I should say, sir. I don't see what you can do."

"No," said the lieutenant, shaking his head sadly. "What a pity it is that things will go so crookedly!" And he walked on in silence down into the main street, looking sharply from side to side.

"Anyone would think that we were going to commit a burglary," muttered d.i.c.k. As they went on for some time, "Is it here, sir?" he ventured to say at last.

"Only about five hundred yards more, Smithson; but, really, that _contretemps_ has so upset me that I think you had better play a solo.

I shall never get through a duet."

"But that would be of no use, sir," cried d.i.c.k. "It would be only my music then. It ought to be your serenade."

"Yes, Smithson--it ought," sighed the lieutenant in a husky whisper; "but, if I broke down, it would be absurd."

"But you wouldn't break down, sir. See how correctly you played it this evening."

"Yes, I did--didn't I? You think I could do it, don't you?"

"I'm sure you could, sir, if you would only forget about being nervous."

"I must try," said the lieutenant. "We are very near now."

They were now where the lamps had grown fewer, and consequently the road between was much darker; but there was light enough for d.i.c.k to see that they were pa.s.sing a series of detached houses, built upon the same plan, standing back some forty yards from the road, and approached by semicircular carriage drives from gate to gate. Trees were plentiful in the grounds, and overhung and darkened the footpath; so that, as they pa.s.sed the second gateway, the lieutenant gave a violent start, for from close up to the wall there came a gruff voice--

"Night, gentlemen!"

"Eh! You quite startled me," said the lieutenant. "I didn't see you."

"No, sir. Don't want to be seen," replied the man. "Get some queer customers down here sometimes, and obliged to keep a sharp look-out."

"Yes; quite right," said the lieutenant, feebly; and he walked straight on for about a hundred yards before speaking.

"It's all over, Smithson!" he whispered at last.

"All over, sir?"

"Yes; that's the house, and there's the policeman on the watch."

"That's awkward," said d.i.c.k; "but he'll soon go, sir."

"Soon go, man! Who's to go and play a duet with a policeman keeping his eye upon you all the time? I couldn't do it, Smithson."

"Let's walk on a little farther, sir, and then turn back."

"No; we must give it up for to-night. How terribly strange things are turning up! And, besides, it's getting so late."

They walked on a quarter of a mile and then turned back, hardly a word being said, the lieutenant filling up the time by uttering the peculiar sound expressed by the word _tut_ repeated rapidly.

"Shall I go on first, sir, and see if the policeman is there?" said d.i.c.k at last.

"No, no; it would look so suspicious. He might take us for bad characters. We must walk by together."

"Very well, sir," replied d.i.c.k; and they strolled slowly along the now deserted road, with the lights in the upper windows of the houses gradually dying out one by one, as if to prove that the lieutenant's words about being late were correct.

To their great satisfaction, though, the lights were still plainly to be seen in the last house but one of those standing back, and as they pa.s.sed the swing gates no policeman was visible.

But they walked on back towards the town for another hundred yards, and then stopped.

"Coast quite clear, sir," said d.i.c.k.

"Think so, Smithson? Is it safe?"

"The constable has evidently gone on his round."

"But he said something about watching."

"Yes, sir; but he would not stop in one place. I'd venture, if I were you."

"Then we will, Smithson. Come along back at once, and let's get it over. The plan of attack is to go quickly through the gate, pa.s.s on to the gra.s.s, and then right up to the house--on the lawn, of course. Then one, two, three, four, and start at once."

"Yes, sir; I understand. I'll count four in a whisper, and away we go."

"There, then, not a word till I tap your arm with my flute, which you can give me as soon as we have got on to the lawn."

The entrance was reached again, but there was no policeman in the dark nook, and, raising the latch, the lieutenant swung open the gate, and they pa.s.sed through, the latch falling back into its place with a faint click which sounded terribly loud, and made them pause for a moment or two.

"Come along," whispered the lieutenant; "on to the gra.s.s."

"What's your little game?"

It was a gruff whisper from out of a clump of laurustinus, and, as the stalwart figure of the policeman moved up in the darkness, the lieutenant turned to flee, but stopped short on d.i.c.k grasping his arm.

"There's nothing wrong, constable!" said d.i.c.k, quickly.