His voice seemed to ring out and his accountant stared at him.
Then unexpectedly he said quietly,
“I admire you for that sentiment, but needs must when the devil drives!”
“And the devil is driving now. Damn it! Was any man ever in such an appalling position as I am in at the moment? The sooner we have a drink and try to forget it, the better.”
He walked towards the cupboard at the end of the room where his father had always kept his whisky.
As he turned the key and opened the door, Mr. Johnson, watching him, was smiling.
*
At about the same time that the Marquis was riding back to his own stables, another horse was galloping hell for leather across the countryside.
From a distance the rider seemed a tall slender lad, controlling the animal magnificently despite his slight build.
A
