Lady Maude's Mania Part 52

"Am I, gov'nor? Then you tell Tryphie so, and back me up, for I mean, as the old song says, 'to marry she.'"

"Do you, my boy?"

"Yes, gov'nor. Do you consent?"

"Certainly, my dear boy, certainly. When is it to be?"

"Barmouth," said her ladys.h.i.+p in her deep contralto, "would you be kind enough to ring for Justine?"

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.

TOM PICKS A BONE.

"Stop a moment," said Tom, who had slipped out and intercepted the French maid in the corridor. "Here, I've got a bone to pick with you."

"No, no, Milor Thomas, nevaire now," cried Justine, "_pas de pet.i.tes soupers_. I am engage."

"Engaged, are you? What, to be married?"

"Yes, milor, to be married."

"Then good luck to you, ma'amselle. But I say, you are a nice one, you are."

"I do you not understand, sir."

"Not understand?" cried Tom, catching her by the wrist. "None of your nonsense. Come now, you were in the secret."

"Sir, I will never divulge the secret of her ladys.h.i.+p; no, not even to milor."

"Get out!"

"You loose my arm, milor. Her ladys.h.i.+p wait for me."

"So do I," said Tom. "Hang her ladys.h.i.+p's hair-dye and all her other secrets; I mean about the organ--Mr Melton. Ah, you're a nice one, Justine."

"Milor, you think I know about that tair-rible affaire?" cried Justine very Frenchly.

"Yes, and so you did."

"Faith of a woman, sir; it is not ter-r-rue," cried Justine, excitedly.

"Gammon! Come, Justine, the game's up, and I know you were at the bottom of it all."

"_Non--non--non--non--non--non_," cried Justine, shaking her head quite dangerously.

"_Oui--oui--oui--oui--oui_," said Tom. "Now come, confess."

"And you go tell her ladys.h.i.+p, you bad, weeked lil man."

"Not I. I'm only too glad things have turned out so right."

"You deed not like Sir Viltaire?"

"Like him!"

"You will not tell her ladys.h.i.+p, I confess," said Justine in a mysterious, whisper. "You will not what you English call ze peach."

"Peach? not I, old girl. Come, you did know?"

Justine screwed up her eyes, and made her mouth a tight line as she laughed silently.

"Then you put Mr Melton up to the dodge?"

"_Parole d'honneur_, no, Milor Tom. Ze plot was hatch by Monsieur Shairlie himself. I say noding about ze hair come out," she added to herself.

"Well, all I can say is, that Charley Melton was a plucky one. And you knew this all the time?"

"Yes, milor."

"You're a deep one, Justine."

"I love ze secret, monsieur, and I cannot bear to see Miladi Maude soffaire."

"So you helped, eh?"

"Faith of a woman, no, sare; I only look on, and see and say noding at all."

"By George, Justine, you've been a trump! and I'll give you a ring for this."

"Then give me dat one now, sare," said Justine, sharply, as she pointed to the signet on Tom's finger.

"But that's too big and ugly for you, my girl. It is a gentleman's ring."

"_Ma foi_, Milor Thomas, do I not tell you I have a gentleman?"

"Then you're going to marry old waxworks."

"No, no, sare, I go to be Madame Launay when we return; and if Milor Tom do require my help--a thank you, ze ring is _charmant_--you shall say to me, 'Justine, her ladys.h.i.+p go to marry _la belle_ Ma'amselle Tryphie to Sir Viltaire,' I am at your sairvice, for I am the guardian of her ladys.h.i.+p's secret, but _vive l'amour_."

"_Vive l'amour_, Justine," cried Tom, giving her a kiss.

"Bad, weeked lil mans. But I forgive you. I go to her ladys.h.i.+p. _Au revoir_."

"Charley, old fellow," said Viscount Diphoos before they parted for the night, "hang me if I don't stick to that organ, and have it on a stand in my room; and so long as I am at home, every time the old girl gets in one of her tantrums, I'll go and turn the handle till she comes and makes a truce."

Viscount Diphoos did not kep his word about that organ, being at the time in profound ignorance of the fact, that two days after he left town, and while the house was still in a state of turmoil, an Italian gentleman with very dark eyes, very black beard, and a smile that reached from one ear-ring to the other, called for the organ that had been left in the area; slinking down to the kitchen door, and wheedling the page a little. That young gentleman thought it rather fun to put the strap over his shoulder, and carry the instrument to the door, when it was borne off, and, in truth, entirely forgotten by all concerned.