While waiting for his cousin to rejoin him Adrien crossed over to the
window, which commanded a view of the Castle entrance, and stood gazing
idly down. Outside stood a smart motor, and from it was alighting the
trim figure of Jasper Vermont.
"By Jove!" he exclaimed, "I had forgotten Jasper."
He tapped at the window, and waved his hand in affectionate greeting to
his friend, who looked up with his most amiable smile, as he brushed
aside the servants who had hurried out to meet him.
There are people who are served well from sheer force of personality,
and who, though neither generous nor unselfish themselves, yet contrive
to abstract the very essence of these qualities from those around them;
and of these Jasper Vermont was one. His tips were few, though he was
lavish in smiles and honeyed words; yet not one of the retinue of
servants at Barminster Castle but would fly to attend to his wants, as
they would those of Adrien or Lord Barminster himself.
A few minutes later he strolled into the room where the rest of the
guests were seated. As he did so Lord Barminster involuntarily drew
himself up with a slight frown. He had hoped that the "adventurer," as
he invariably termed him, would remain in town and not thrust his
unwelcome presence upon the guests at the Castle. But, in another
minute, his natural courtesy reasserted itself; and, though it was
patent to the least observant that the new arrival was not as welcome as
he might have been, he answered Jasper's amiable inquiry as to his
health politely enough.
"Thank you, Mr. Vermont," he said grimly, "I am quite well. But you, I
fear, are an invalid."
His sharp eyes glanced towards the closed motor, which was gliding round
the bend of the drive.
"No, sir, I am quite well, I assure you," Jasper replied, meekly, as if
unconscious of any irony.
"But I have learned enough wisdom to feel convinced that all journeys,
including that of life itself, should be taken as comfortably as
possible. I prefer, therefore, to have the dust and smell outside the
car instead of in. Am I not right?"
"Perfectly," returned his opponent, with a sarcastic smile; "you should
surely know your own constitution best. It was an unfortunate error on
my part."
At this moment, Adrien, who had been listening to the point-and-thrust
conversation, exceedingly ill at ease, intervened, and under some
pretext drew his father out with him into the corridor.
"I do detest that fellow so," said the old man apologetically, as though
ashamed at having displayed his feelings.