“A five-and-twenty shilling beaver, Mr. Hadrian!” Benson caressed its injuries.

“The cheapest policy of insurance I remember to have heard of!” said Adrian.

Benson staggered, moaning at intervals to his cruel comforter.

“He’s a devil, Mr. Hadrian!  He’s a devil, sir, I do believe, sir.  Ooogh! he’s a devil!—­I can’t move, Mr. Hadrian.  I must be fetched.  And Dr. Clifford must be sent for, sir.  I shall never be fit for work again.  I haven’t a sound bone in my body, Mr. Hadrian.”

“You see, Benson, this comes of your declaring war upon Venus.  I hope the maids will nurse you properly.  Let me see:  you are friends with the housekeeper, aren’t you?  All depends upon that.”

“I’m only a faithful servant, Mr. Hadrian,” the miserable butler snarled.

“Then you’ve got no friend but your bed.  Get to it as quick as possible, Benson.”

“I can’t move.”  Benson made a resolute halt.  “I must be fetched,” he whinnied.  “It’s a shame to ask me to move, Mr. Hadrian.”

“You will admit that you are heavy, Benson,” said Adrian, “so I can’t carry you.  However, I see Mr. Richard is very kindly returning to help me.”

At these words heavy Benson instantly found his legs, and shambled on.

Lady Blandish met Richard in dismay.

“I have been horribly frightened,” she said.  “Tell me, what was the meaning of those cries I heard?”

“Only some one doing justice on a spy,” said Richard, and the lady smiled, and looked on him fondly, and put her hand through his hair.

“Was that all?  I should have done it myself if I had been a man.  Kiss me.”

CHAPTER XXI

By twelve o’clock at noon next day the inhabitants of Raynham Abbey knew that Berry, the baronet’s man, had arrived post-haste from town, with orders to conduct Mr. Richard thither, and that Mr. Richard had refused to go, had sworn he would not, defied his father, and despatched Berry to the Shades.  Berry was all that Benson was not.  Whereas Benson hated woman, Berry admired her warmly.  Second to his own stately person, woman occupied his reflections, and commanded his homage.  Berry was of majestic port, and used dictionary words.  Among the maids of Raynham his conscious calves produced all the discord and the frenzy those adornments seem destined to create in tender bosoms.  He had, moreover, the reputation of having suffered for the sex; which assisted his object in inducing the sex to suffer for him.  What with his calves, and his dictionary words, and the attractive halo of the mysterious vindictiveness of Venus surrounding him, this Adonis of the lower household was a mighty man below, and he moved as one.

On hearing the tumult that followed Berry’s arrival, Adrian sent for him, and was informed of the nature of his mission, and its result.

“You should come to me first,” said Adrian.  “I should have imagined you were shrewd enough for that, Berry?”