Among those whose ears had been reached by the hurrahs of these idlerswas a man in silence and solitude, far out of the town. He was leaningover a gate that divided two meads in a watery level between StancyCastle and Markton. He turned his head for a few seconds, then continuedhis contemplative gaze towards the towers of the castle, visible overthe trees as far as was possible in the leaden gloom of the Novembereve. The military form of the solitary lounger was recognizable as thatof Sir William De Stancy, notwithstanding the failing light and hisattitude of so resting his elbows on the gate that his hands enclosedthe greater part of his face.
The scene was inexpressibly cheerless. No other human creature wasapparent, and the only sounds audible above the wind were those of thetrickling streams which distributed the water over the meadow. A heronhad been standing in one of these rivulets about twenty yards fromthe officer, and they vied with each other in stillness till the birdsuddenly rose and flew off to the plantation in which it was his customto pass the night with others of his tribe. De Stancy saw the heronrise, and seemed to imagine the creature's departure without a supperto be owing to the increasing darkness; but in another minute he becameconscious that the heron had been disturbed by sounds too distant toreach his own ears at the time. They were nearer now, and there camealong under the hedge a young man known to De Stancy exceedingly well.
'Ah,' he said listlessly, 'you have ventured back.'
'Yes, captain. Why do you walk out here?'
'The bells began ringing because she and he were expected, and mythoughts naturally dragged me this way. Thank Heaven the battery leavesMarkton in a few days, and then the precious place will know me nomore!'
'I have heard of it.' Turning to where the dim lines of the castle rosehe continued: 'Well, there it stands.'
'And I am not in it.'
'They are not in it yet either.'
'They soon will be.'
'Well--what tune is that you were humming, captain?'
'ALL IS LOST NOW,' replied the captain grimly.
'O no; you have got me, and I am a treasure to any man. I have anothermatch in my eye for you, and shall get you well settled yet, if you keepyourself respectable. So thank God, and take courage!'
'Ah, Will--you are a flippant young fool--wise in your own conceit; Isay it to my sorrow! 'Twas your dishonesty spoilt all. That lady wouldhave been my wife by fair dealing--time was all I required. But baseattacks on a man's character never deserve to win, and if I had oncebeen certain that you had made them, my course would have been verydifferent, both towards you and others. But why should I talk to youabout this? If I cared an atom what becomes of you I would take you inhand severely enough; not caring, I leave you alone, to go to the devilyour own way.'
'Thank you kindly, captain. Well, since you have spoken plainly, I willdo the same. We De Stancys are a worn-out old party--that's the longand the short of it. We represent conditions of life that have had theirday--especially me. Our one remaining chance was an alliance with newaristocrats; and we have failed. We are past and done for. Our line hashad five hundred years of glory, and we ought to be content. Enfin lesrenards se trouvent chez le pelletier.'
'Speak for yourself, young Consequence, and leave the destinies of oldfamilies to respectable philosophers. This fiasco is the direct resultof evil conduct, and of nothing else at all. I have managed badly; Icountenanced you too far. When I saw your impish tendencies I shouldhave forsworn the alliance.'
'Don't sting me, captain. What I have told you is true. As for myconduct, cat will after kind, you know. You should have held your tongueon the wedding morning, and have let me take my chance.'
'Is that all I get for saving you from jail? Gad--I alone am thesufferer, and feel I am alone the fool!... Come, off with you--I neverwant to see you any more.'
'Part we will, then--till we meet again. It will be a light nighthereabouts, I think, this evening.'
'A very dark one for me.'
'Nevertheless, I think it will be a light night. Au revoir!'
Dare went his way, and after a while De Stancy went his. Both were soonlost in the shades.