April Lady by Georgette Heyer Page B

foot of the steps, considering whether he should summon a hackney, and take a look-in at Tattersall's, or stroll to Conduit Street, where, at Limmer's, he would be sure to encounter a few choice spirits. While he hesitated, a tilbury, drawn by a high-stepping bay, swept round the angle of the square, and he saw that the down-the-road-looking man in the tall hat, and the box-coat of white drab, who was handling the ribbons with such admirable skill, was Cardross. He had no particular desire to meet the Earl, with whom he knew himself to be no favourite, but he waited civilly for the tilbury to draw up beside him.
    "Hallo, Dysart!" said the Earl, handing the reins over to his groom, and lumping down from the carriage. "Are you just going in, or just coming out?"
    "Just coming out." replied Dysart, watching the tilbury being driven away, "that's a nice tit you have there: looks to be a sweet goer. Welsh?"
    "Yes, I'm pretty well pleased with him," agreed Cardross. "Very free and fast, and has a good knee action. Oh, yes! pure bred Welsh: I bought him from Chesterford last week. Do you care to come in again?"
    "No, I'm bound for Limmer's," said the Viscount. He eyed his brother-in-law speculatively. The Earl appeared to be in an amiable frame of mind; it was common knowledge that he was rich enough to be able to buy an abbey; and if there was the least chance of getting three hundred pounds out of him merely for the asking, the Viscount was not the man to let this slip. "You wouldn't care to lend me three hundred, would you?" he suggested hopefully.
    "Three hundred?"
    "Call it five!" offered the Viscount, recollecting certain of his own more pressing obligations.
    Cardross laughed. "I'll call it anything you choose, but I shouldn't at all care to lend you money. And I'll thank you, Dysart, not to apply to Nell!"
    "Nothing of the sort!" said the Viscount, repressing a strong inclination to tell him that the boot was on quite the other leg.
    "Dipped again?" enquired Cardross. "You ought to be tied, you know!"
    "I see no sense in that," returned Dysart. "Wouldn't do me a bit of good! The only way to come about is to make a big coup. I don't doubt I'll do it, for it stands to reason the luck must change one day! However, I've been thinking seriously of devoting myself to faro, and I believe I'll do it. The devil's in the bones, and has been, this year past."
    The news that he was about to reform his way of life met with a disappointing lack of enthusiasm. "What other entertainments have you in store for us?" asked Cardross. "I didn't see you driving a wheelbarrow blindfold down Piccadilly last week, but I'm told you contrived to dislocate all the traffic for a considerable space of time. I must congratulate you. Also on your latest feat, of cutting your initials on all the trees in St. James's Park."
    "An hour and fifteen minutes!" said Dysart, with simple pride.
    "Very creditable."
    "Oh, lord!" Dysart said petulantly, "what else is there to do but kick up a lark now and then?"
    "You might see what can be done to put your estates in order."
    "They ain't my estates," retorted Dysart. "I fancy I see my father letting me meddle! What's more, if there's anything to be done old Moulton will do it far better than I could. He's been our agent for years, and he don't mean to let me meddle either. Not that I want to, for I don't."
    "I'll make you an offer," said Cardross, scanning him not unkindly. "I won't lend you three hundred pence to fling away at faro, but I'm prepared to settle your debts, and to buy you a commission in any serving regiment you choose to name."
    "By Jove, I wish you would!" Dysart said impulsively.
    "I will."
    The Viscount's blue eyes had kindled, but that eager glow faded, and he laughed, giving his head a rueful shake. "No use! The old gentleman wouldn't hear of it. God knows why he's so set on keeping me in England, for putting aside the fact that I'm not his only son it don't seem to be any pleasure to him to have me