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never heard of him； and his adventure to these parts seemed to them
an almost ludicrous example of pure idea poking its nose into plain
factsthe idea that nations ought to； and could live in peace being
so very pure； and the fact that they never had； so very plain！
At Monkland； which was all Court estate； there were naturally but few
supporters of Miltoun's opponent； Mr。 Humphrey Chilcox； and the
reception accorded to the champion of Peace soon passed from
curiosity to derision； from derision to menace； till Courtier's
attitude became so defiant； and his sentences so heated that he was
only saved from a rough handling by the influential interposition of
the vicar。
Yet when he began to address them he had felt irresistibly attracted。
They looked such capital； independent fellows。 Waiting for his turn
to speak； he had marked them down as men after his own heart。 For
though Courtier knew that against an unpopular idea there must
always be a majority； he never thought so ill of any individual as to
suppose him capable of belonging to that ill…omened body。
Surely these fine； independent fellows were not to be hoodwinked by
the jingoes！ It had been one more disillusion。 He had not taken it
lying down； neither had his audience。 They dispersed without
forgiving； they came together again without having forgotten。
The village Inn； a little white building whose small windows were
overgrown with creepers； had a single guest's bedroom on the upper
floor； and a little sitting…room where Courtier took his meals。 The
rest of the house was but stone…floored bar with a long wooden bench
against the back wall； whence nightly a stream of talk would issue；
all harsh a's； and sudden soft u's； whence too a figure； a little
unsteady； would now and again emerge； to a chorus of 'Gude naights；'
stand still under the ash…trees to light his pipe； then move slowly
home。
But on that evening； when the trees； like cattle； stood knee…deep in
the moon…dust； those who came out from the bar…room did not go away；
they hung about in the shadows； and were joined by other figures
creeping furtively through the bright moonlight； from behind the Inn。
Presently more figures moved up from the lanes and the churchyard
path； till thirty or more were huddled there； and their stealthy
murmur of talk distilled a rare savour of illicit joy。 Unholy
hilarity； indeed； seemed lurking in the deep tree…shadow； before the
wan Inn； whence from a single lighted window came forth the half…
chanting sound of a man's voice reading out loud。 Laughter was
smothered； talk whispered。
〃He'm a…practisin' his spaches。〃 〃Smoke the cunnin' old vox out！〃
〃Red pepper's the proper stuff。〃 〃See men sneeze！ We've a…screed up
the door。〃
Then； as a face showed at the lighted window； a burst of harsh
laughter broke the hush。
He at the window was seen struggling violently to wrench away a bar。
The laughter swelled to hooting。 The prisoner forced his way
through； dropped to the ground； rose； staggered； and fell。
A voice said sharply：
〃What's this？〃
Out of the sounds of scuffling and scattering came the whisper： 〃His
lordship！〃 And the shade under the ash…trees became deserted； save
by the tall dark figure of a man； and a woman's white shape。
〃Is that you； Mr。 Courtier？ Are you hurt？〃
A chuckle rose from the recumbent figure。
〃Only my knee。 The beggars！ They precious nearly choked me；
though。〃
CHAPTER VII
Bertie Caradoc； leaving the smoking…room at Monkland Court that same
evening；on his way to bed； went to the Georgian corridor； where his
pet barometer was hanging。 To look at the glass had become the
nightly habit of one who gave all the time he could spare from his
profession to hunting in the winter and to racing in the summer。'
The Hon。 Hubert Caradoc； an apprentice to the calling of diplomacy；
more completely than any living Caradoc embodied the characteristic
strength and weaknesses of that family。 He was of fair height； and
wiry build。 His weathered face； under sleek； dark hair； had regular；
rather small features； and wore an expression of alert resolution；
masked by impassivity。 Over his inquiring； hazel…grey eyes the lids
were almost religiously kept half drawn。 He had been born reticent；
and great； indeed； was the emotion under which he suffered when the
whole of his eyes were visible。 His nose was finely chiselled； and
had little flesh。 His lips； covered by a small； dark moustache；
scarcely opened to emit his speeches； which were uttered in a voice
singularly muffled； yet unexpectedly quick。 The whole personality
was that of a man practical； spirited； guarded； resourceful； with
great power of self…control； who looked at life as if she were a
horse under him； to whom he must give way just so far as was
necessary to keep mastery of her。 A man to whom ideas were of no
value； except when wedded to immediate action； essentially neat；
demanding to be 'done well；' but capable of stoicism if necessary；
urbane； yet always in readiness to thrust； able only to condone the
failings and to compassionate the kinds of distress which his own
experience had taught him to understand。 Such was Miltoun's younger
brother at the age of twenty…six。
Having noted that the glass was steady； he was about to seek the
stairway； when he saw at the farther end of the entrance…hall three
figures advancing arm…in…arm。 Habitually both curious and wary； he
waited till they came within the radius of a lamp； then； seeing them
to be those of Miltoun and a footman； supporting between them a lame
man； he at once hastened forward。
〃Have you put your knee out； sir？ Hold on a minute！ Get a chair；
Charles。〃
Seating the stranger in this chair； Bertie rolled up the trouser； and
passed his fingers round the knee。 There was a sort； of loving…
kindness in that movement； as of a hand which had in its time felt
the joints and sinews of innumerable horses。
〃H'm！〃he said； 〃can you stand a bit of a jerk？ Catch hold of him
behind； Eustace。 Sit down on the floor； Charles； and hold the legs
of the chair。 Now then！〃 And taking up the foot； he pulled。 There
was a click； a little noise of teeth ground together； and Bertie
said： 〃Good manshan't have to have the vet。 to you； this time。〃
Having conducted their lame guest to a room in the Georgian corridor
hastily converted to a bedroom； the two brothers presently left him
to the attentions of the footman。
〃Well； old man；〃 said Bertie； as they sought their rooms； 〃that's put
paid to his namewon't do you any more harm this journey。 Good
plucked one； though！〃
The report that Courtier was harboured beneath their roof went the
round of the family before breakfast； through the agency of one whose
practice it was to know all things； and to see that others partook of
that knowledge； Little Ann； paying her customary morning visit to her
mother's room； took her stand with face turned up and hands clasping
her belt； and began at once。
〃Uncle Eustace brought a man last night with a wounded leg； and Uncle
Bertie pulled it out straight。 William says that Charles says he
only made a noise like this〃there was a faint sound