Dangerous Escapade Read Free Page B

regarded Debenham
under frowning black brows. The Earl returned his regard steadily.
    “Come, Kit, this
is your father's command,” he said. “You and I should be friends, for we must not
fail him now.''
    Kit rose
quickly, making Debenham a little bow, which was returned with due formality. “Sir,
I am grateful to you for coming to fetch me, and I will, of course, do as my
father wishes,” he began stiffly. “But it cannot be but that I shall be a
charge upon you. I do not think that you can really want me to live with you.”
    The Earl
replied with equal gravity, “As we are not yet very well acquainted, I will spare
you protestations of regard. However, I hope that in time we may become
sincerely attached to each other and that I may be permitted to stand in some
respects as a father to you. This is not a question that we can discuss here,
so I would be obliged if you would pack whatever of your belongings you wish to
carry with you and return with me to my hôtel tonight.”
    Kit stared up
at the handsome, uncompromising face before him. For a moment, it seemed that
he might rebel; then, with a shrug, he capitulated, saying: “As you wish, Sir. Tante Hélène , will you assist me?”
    The Earl was much
amused by the quaint dignity displayed by his young charge and by the habitual note
of command in the immature voice. He perceived that Master Clareville was an
unusual character, and he looked forward with rather more enthusiasm to the
prospect of his guardianship.
    After some
minutes, during which time Debenham was beguiled into pleasant conversation with
several damsels who had lingered in the scented boudoir, Hélèneand Master Clareville returned, the
latter clutching a valise.
    Tenderly, the young
ladies gathered around their favourite to make their farewells. He submitted to
a series of affectionate embraces, returning them with a gentleness Lord
Debenham thought strange in a boy of his age, who might be expected to consider
these demonstrations unmanly and embarrassing.
    At last, Kit turned
to Hélène, who stood a little apart, watching him hungrily. He held out his
arms to her, and she clasped him to her breast with a fervour that startled the
watching Earl.
    “Farewell, dear Tante ,” whispered the boy in a
choking voice.
    “God go with
you, my dearest,” she answered softly, then thrust him from her almost roughly.
“Take care of le petit , Milor !” she commanded Debenham fiercely.
“Be kind to him.”
    Lord Debenham bowed.
“I will do my poor best. Come, Kit, we must be off. Good day to you, ladies.
Madame, your very obedient.”
    Once outside
the scented house with its opulent surroundings and oppressive atmosphere, a
change came over the Earl's young companion. He straightened his narrow shoulders
and swaggered along, head held high. There was something endearing in that brave
little gesture that made Lord Debenham regard his new acquaintance rather more
closely than before. He began to wonder if he had mistaken the child's age, for
there was a maturity in the delicate face that argued a greater burden of years
than he had at first supposed. He was about to question the lad when he was
himself addressed.
    “ Milor, I am sadly ignorant of affairs in
England. Do you have any news of my father for me? The last message I received
told me only that I must expect a friend's coming, nothing more. I confess that
I am afraid for my father. Please tell me the truth; I would much rather know
the worst.”
    “I regret,
Kit, I have no good news to offer you. The communication I received from your
father was smuggled out of Newgate and was therefore necessarily short. I am
convinced, Kit, that he is as well as any man can be in such conditions, and he
will be given a fair trial, you know.”
    They walked on
in silence for a while. Kit appeared to be labouring under some strong emotion,
which my Lord Debenham judged it wisest to allow him to wrestle with alone.
Therefore, he strode calmly on. Before they