"I think Mr. Richard does not interest himself in politics, sir."
Carstares raised his eyebrows, and there fell a silence.
After a minute or two Mr. Warburton cleared his throat.
"I--I suppose, sir--you have no idea of--er--discontinuing your--er--profession?"
My lord gave an irrepressible little laugh.
"Faith, Mr. Warburton, I've only just begun!"
"I held him up? Ay, but to tell the truth, sir, I've not done much since then!"
"Good gad, no! Notorious, forsooth! Confess, Warburton, you thought me some heroic figure? 'Gentleman Harry', perhaps?"
"I shall have to disappoint you, I perceive. I doubt Bow Street has never heard of me--and--to tell the truth--'tis not an occupation which appeals vastly to my senses."
"I must have some excuse for roaming the country," pleaded Jack. "I could not be idle."
"You are not--compelled to--er--rob, my lord?"
"Compelled? Ah--I take your meaning. No, Warburton, I have enough for my wants--now; time was--but that is past. I rob for amusement's sake."
"I am surprised, my lord, that you, a Carstares, should find it--amusing."
John was silent for a moment, and when he at length spoke it was defiantly and with a bitterness most unusual in him.
"The world, Mr. Warburton, has not treated me so kindly that I should feel any qualms of conscience. But, an it gives you any satisfaction to know it, I will tell you that my robberies are few and far between. You spoke a little while ago of my probable--ah--fate--on Tyburn Tree. I think you need not fear to hear of that."
"I--It gives me great satisfaction, my lord, I confess," stammered the lawyer, and found nothing more to say. After a long pause he again produced the bulky roll of parchment and laid it down before the Earl with the apologetic murmur of:
Carstares descended from the clouds and eyed the packet with evident distaste. He proceeded to fill his and his companion's glass very leisurely. That done, he heaved a lugubrious sigh, caught Mr. Warburton's eye, laughed in answer to its quizzical gleam, and broke the seal.
"Since you _will_ have it, sir--business!"
Mr. Warburton stayed the night at the Chequers and travelled back to Wyncham next day by the two o'clock coach. He played piquet and ecarte with my lord all the evening, and then retired to bed, not having found an opportunity to argue his mission as he had hoped to do. Whenever he had tried to turn the conversation that way he had been gently but firmly led into safer channels, and somehow had found it impossible to get back. My lord was the gayest and most charming of companions, but talk "business" he would not. He regaled the lawyer with spicy anecdotes and tales of abroad, but never once allowed Mr. Warburton to speak of his home or of his brother.