“I know the fellow was an impostor.  He was probably after the spoons!”

Keggs coughed.

“If I might be allowed to take a further liberty, your lordship, might I suggest that I am aware of the man’s identity and of his motive for visiting the castle.”

He waited a little apprehensively.  This was the crucial point in the interview.  If Lord Belpher did not now freeze him with a glance and order him from the room, the danger would be past, and he could speak freely.  His light blue eyes were expressionless as they met Percy’s, but inwardly he was feeling much the same sensation as he was wont to experience when the family was in town and he had managed to slip off to Kempton Park or some other race-course and put some of his savings on a horse.  As he felt when the racing steeds thundered down the straight, so did he feel now.

Astonishment showed in Lord Belpher’s round face.  Just as it was about to be succeeded by indignation, the butler spoke again.

“I am aware, your lordship, that it is not my place to offer suggestions as to the private and intimate affairs of the family I ’ave the honour to serve, but, if your lordship would consent to overlook the liberty, I think I could be of ’elp and assistance in a matter which is causing annoyance and unpleasantness to all.”

He invigorated himself with another dip into the waters of memory.  Yes.  The young man before him might be Lord Belpher, son of his employer and heir to all these great estates, but once he had seen him spanked.

Perhaps Percy also remembered this.  Perhaps he merely felt that Keggs was a faithful old servant and, as such, entitled to thrust himself into the family affairs.  Whatever his reasons, he now definitely lowered the barrier.

“Well,” he said, with a glance at the door to make sure that there were no witnesses to an act of which the aristocrat in him disapproved, “go on!”

Keggs breathed freely.  The danger-point was past.

“’Aving a natural interest, your lordship,” he said, “we of the Servants’ ’All generally manage to become respectfully aware of whatever ‘appens to be transpirin’ above stairs.  May I say that I became acquainted at an early stage with the trouble which your lordship is unfortunately ’aving with a certain party?”

Lord Belpher, although his whole being revolted against what practically amounted to hobnobbing with a butler, perceived that he had committed himself to the discussion.  It revolted him to think that these delicate family secrets were the subject of conversation in menial circles, but it was too late to do anything now.  And such was the whole-heartedness with which he had declared war upon George Bevan that, at this stage in the proceedings, his chief emotion was a hope that Keggs might have something sensible to suggest.