CHAPTER XLIV

The watch consulted by Hippias alternately with his pulse, in occult calculation hideous to mark, said half-past eleven on the midnight.  Adrian, wearing a composedly amused expression on his dimpled plump face,—­held slightly sideways, aloof from paper and pen,—­sat writing at the library table.  Round the baronet’s chair, in a semi-circle, were Lucy, Lady Blandish, Mrs. Doria, and Ripton, that very ill bird at Raynham.  They were silent as those who question the flying minutes.  Ripton had said that Richard was sure to come; but the feminine eyes reading him ever and anon, had gathered matter for disquietude, which increased as time sped.  Sir Austin persisted in his habitual air of speculative repose.

Remote as he appeared from vulgar anxiety, he was the first to speak and betray his state.

“Pray, put up that watch.  Impatience serves nothing,” he said, half-turning hastily to his brother behind him.

Hippias relinquished his pulse and mildly groaned:  “It’s no nightmare, this!”

His remark was unheard, and the bearing of it remained obscure.  Adrian’s pen made a louder flourish on his manuscript; whether in commiseration or infernal glee, none might say.

“What are you writing?” the baronet inquired testily of Adrian, after a pause; twitched, it may be, by a sort of jealousy of the wise youth’s coolness.

“Do I disturb you, sir?” rejoined Adrian.  “I am engaged on a portion of a Proposal for uniting the Empires and Kingdoms of Europe under one Paternal Head, on the model of the ever-to-be-admired and lamented Holy Roman.  This treats of the management of Youths and Maids, and of certain magisterial functions connected therewith.  ’It is decreed that these officers be all and every men of science,’ etc.”  And Adrian cheerily drove his pen afresh.

Mrs. Doria took Lucy’s hand, mutely addressing encouragement to her, and Lucy brought as much of a smile as she could command to reply with.

“I fear we must give him up to-night,” observed Lady Blandish.

“If he said he would come, he will come,” Sir Austin interjected.  Between him and the lady there was something of a contest secretly going on.  He was conscious that nothing save perfect success would now hold this self-emancipating mind.  She had seen him through.

“He declared to me he would be certain to come,” said Ripton; but he could look at none of them as he said it, for he was growing aware that Richard might have deceived him, and was feeling like a black conspirator against their happiness.  He determined to tell the baronet what he knew, if Richard did not come by twelve.

“What is the time?” he asked Hippias in a modest voice.

“Time for me to be in bed,” growled Hippias, as if everybody present had been treating him badly.

Mrs. Berry came in to apprise Lucy that she was wanted above.  She quietly rose.  Sir Austin kissed her on the forehead, saying:  “You had better not come down again, my child.”  She kept her eyes on him.  “Oblige me by retiring for the night,” he added.  Lucy shook their hands, and went out, accompanied by Mrs. Doria.