Page:By order of the Czar.djvu/323



BY ORDER OF THE CZAR. 311

Not only built them but furnished them. His principal castle was a pretty detached house at Kensington. It had stables, a garden, and was decorated under the personal direction of Dolly Norcott, Jenny and himself. They spent most of the spring months in finding it and putting it in order. Before the season was over they were married at St. George's, Hanover Square. All this was pleasant dreaming. Of course the breakfast would take place at Westbury Lodge ; that is if they had a breakfast. Proba- bly Mrs. Milbanke would prefer the new fashion of an afternoon wedding and an evening reception ; or rather was it evening or afternoon ; he forgot which ; but it was " the swell thing" he thought now not to have breakfast.

The night was very calm. Sam smoked. So did Deve- reux. The servant, however, kept clear of the master. He was one of those perfect retainers who know exactly when to be on hand and when not. Devereux had not read the telegram from Venice, but he had come to the conclusion that the expedition was one of a very personal character. He knew it was not a business trip. He knew it was not one of pleasure apart from the Milbankes. He knew that his master had no real pleasure outside that par- ticular family. He knew his master was in love with Miss Norcott. He knew of the engagement of that young lady to his master's rival. He knew she had gone to Italy with her sister and brother-in-law. He knew that Mr. Philip Forsyth was traveling in their company. All London knew that the rising young student son of Lady Forsyth had gone to paint in Venice, and all the section of London which read the Morning Post knew that he was engaged to Miss Norcott, the daughter of the eminent and long since retired city merchant, and sister-in-law of the wealthy young city lawyer, Mr. Walter Milbanke. Therefore, De- vereux was a trifled worried about his master's trip, although he had quietly said to himself that he should not