He drew back, for the dog, not liking the tone in which he addressed his mistress, had taken a step nearer to him.

‘My lord,’ said Dorothy, as she laid hold of the animal, for the first and only time in her life a little inclined to be angry with her benefactor, ’you do my poor Marquis wrong.  At the risk of his own life he has just saved your lordship’s groom, Shafto, from being torn in pieces by the Great Mogul.’

While she spoke, some of those of the garrison who had been engaged in securing the animal came up into the court, and attracted the marquis’s attraction by their approach, which, in the relaxation of discipline consequent on excitement, was rather tumultuous.  At their head was lord Charles, who had led them to the capture, and without whose ruling presence the enemy would not have been re-caged in twice the time.  As they drew near, and saw Dorothy stand in battle-plight, with her dog beside her, even in their lord’s presence they could not resist the impulse to cheer her.  Annoyed at their breach of manners, the marquis had not however committed himself to displeasure ere he spied a joke: 

‘I told you so, mistress Dorothy!’ he said again.  ’That rival of mine has, as I feared, already made a party against me.  You see how my own knaves, before my very face, cheer my enemy!  I presume, my lord,’ he went on, turning to the mastiff, and removing his hat, ’it will be my wisdom to resign castle and title at once, and so forestall deposition.’

Marquis replied with a growl, and amidst subdued yet merry laughter, lord Charles hastened to enlighten his father.

‘My lord,’ he said, ’the dog has done nobly as ever dog, and deserves reward, not mockery, which it is plain he understands, and likes not.  But it was not the mastiff, it was his fair mistress I and my men presumed on saluting in your lordship’s presence.  No dog ever yet shook off collar of Cranford’s forging; nor is Marquis the only dog that merits your lordship’s acknowledgment:  O’Brien and Tom Fool—­the lurcher, I mean—­seconded him bravely, and perhaps Strafford did best of all.’

‘Prithee, now, take me with thee,’ said the marquis.  ’Was, or was not the Great Mogul forth of his cage?’

’Indeed he was, my lord, and might be now in the fields but for cousin Vaughan there by your side.’

The marquis turned and looked at her, but in his astonishment said nothing, and lord Charles went on.

’When we got into the yard, there was the Great Mogul with three dogs upon him, and mistress Dorothy uncollaring Tom Fool and hounding him at the devilish brute; while poor Shafto, just waking up, lay on the stones, about three yards off the combat.  It was the finest thing I ever saw, my lord.’

The marquis turned again to Dorothy, and stared without speech or motion.

‘Mean you—?’ he said at length, addressing lord Charles, but still staring at Dorothy; ‘Mean you—?’ he said again, half stammering, and still staring.