Read Online Sprig Muslin by Georgette Heyer - Free Book Online Page A

impending scandals had the power to ruffle his placidity. That it was first his father, and, later, his elder brother, who enacted the role of Providence troubled him not at all; and whenever the Earl swore that he had rescued him for the last time he made not the slightest effort either to placate his brother or to mend his extremely reprehensible ways, because he knew that while the Earl shared many of his tastes he had also a strong prejudice against open scandals, and could always be relied upon, whatever the exigencies of his own situation, to rescue one of his name from the bailiff's clutches.
    At no time was his lordship pleased to receive a visit from Mr. Theale; when that florid and portly gentleman descended upon him on the very day appointed for Sir Gareth's arrival he so far forgot himself as to say, in front of the butler, a footman, and Mr. Theale's own valet, that no one need trouble to carry the numerous valises upstairs, since he was not going to house his brother for as much as a night.
    Mr. Theale, beyond enquiring solicitously if his lordship's gout was plaguing him, paid no attention to this. He adjured the footman to handle his dressing-case carefully, and informed the Earl that he was on his way to Leicestershire. The Earl eyed him with wrath and misgiving. Mr. Theale owned a snug little hunting-box near Melton Mowbray, but if he was proposing to visit it in the middle of July this could only mean that circumstances had rendered it prudent, if not urgently necessary, for him to leave town for a space. "What is it this time?" he demanded, leading the way into the library. "You haven't come home for the pleasure of seeing me, so out with it I And I give you fair warning, Fabian—"
    "No, no, it's no pleasure to me to see you, old fellow!" Mr. Theale assured him. "In fact, if I weren't in the basket I wouldn't have come here, because to see you fretting and fuming is enough to give one a fit of the dismals."
    "When last I saw you," said the Earl suspiciously, "you told me you had made a recover! Said you had had a run of luck at faro, and were as fresh as ever."
    "Dash it, that was a month ago!" expostulated Mr. Theale. "You can't expect it to be high water with me for ever! Not but what if you could trust to the form-book I ought to be able to buy an abbey by now. But there it is! First there was the Salisbury meeting—by the by, old fellow, did you lay your blunt on Corkscrew? Got a notion I told you to."
    "No, I didn't," replied the Earl shortly.
    "Good thing," approved Mr. Theale. "Damned screw wasn't placed. Then there was Andover! Mind you, if I'd followed my own judgment, Whizgig would have carried my money, and very likely I wouldn't be here today. However, I let Jerry earwig me into backing Ticklepitcher, so here I am. I hear you was at the July meeting at Newmarket, and came off all right," he added dispassionately.
    "As to that—"
    "Three winners, and a devilish long price you must have got on True-blue, my boy! If I were half as tetchy as you are, I should take it mighty ill that you didn't pass me the word."
    "I'll grease you in the fist on one condition!" said the Earl brutally.
    "Anything you please, dear boy!" said Mr. Theale, impervious to insult. "Just tip over the dibs!"
    "I have Ludlow coming here today, on a visit, and I shall be glad if you will take yourself off!"
    "Ludlow?" said Mr. Theale, mildly surprised. "What the devil's he coming here for?"
    "He's coming to offer for Hester, and I don't want him to hedge off, which I don't doubt he will, if you try to break his shins!"
    "Well, by God!" exclaimed Mr. Theale. "Damme if ever I thought Hester would contract an engagement at all, let alone catch a man like Ludlow on her hook! Well, this is famous! I wouldn't put his fortune at a penny less than twelve thousand pounds a year! Very right to warn me, dear boy: fatal to borrow any money from him until you have the knot safely tied! Shouldn't dream of making the attempt. I hope he