San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-04
CHAPTER VIII.
Mr.. Etheredge Advises.

Toward midnight, when all the
guests but Etheredge had departed
and the candles lighting the disordered
room were gluttering in their sconces,
the Duke sat alone i'll council with
the younger libertine.
The Duke unburened himself, bit
terly and passionately.
Etheredge smiled.
you're prodigiously ungratcful
fellow. You go elumsily to work
and then you blame me for the fail
tire of your endeavors. Had you
asked me, could have told you what
must happen with parcel of fools
who haven't learnt the art of
carrying their wine in decent fashion.
Had she arrived at the appointed
time, whilst they were still sober, all
might have been well. She might
have come to share, in part, at least.
their intoxicatiOn, and so she would
have viewed their antics through
eyes that wine had rendered tolerant
and kindly. As it is, you merely of
Tended her by a disgusting spectacle !;
and that is very far from anything
that / advised"
"Be that as it may" said the i'll
humored Duke, "there is laugh
against me that is to be redeemed. /
am for director measures now"
"Directcr measures" Etheredge's
brows went up. He uttered a musi-
cal. scOrnful laugh. as this your
patience?"
"A pox on patience :"
"Then she is not for you. Wait a
moment. my sweet. Bucks. have no
illusions Us to what you mean by Dir
rect measures. You are probably
more sober than I am: but then |
am more intelligent than you. Out of
my intelligence let me inform your
sobriety."
"Oh, come to the point"
IL am coming to it.. If you mean
to carry the girl off, I'll be remind
ing you that at law it's hanging
matter"
The duke stared at him in dis
dainful amazement. Then he uttered
sharp laugh of derision.
AT law? Pray, my good George,
what have I to do with the law?"
"By which you mean that you are
above it."
"That is where usually I have
found myself"
Usually. The times are not usual.
The times are mOnstrous unusual.
Rochester, no doubt, thought as you
do when he carried off Miss Mallet
on Friday night. Yet Rochester is in
the tower in consequence.
And you think they'll hang him."
Buckingham sneered.
mo. They won't hang him, be-
cause the abduction was an unneces-
sary piece of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS he
is ready to mend Miss Mallet's honor
by marrying her."
"Let me perish, George, but you're
more drunk than l thought. Miss
Mallett is person of importance in
the world with powerful friends.
miss FarQuharson, too, has
friends. Betterton is her friend, AMI
he yields a deal of influence. You
don't lack for enemies to stir things
up against you.
"Oh, but baggage of the thea
teri" Buckingham was incredulously
scornful.
"These baggages of the theater are
beloved of the people, and the mood
of the people of London at present is
not one / should care to ruffle were
l Duke Buckingham. There is a
war to excite them. and the menace
of the plague TO scare them into max
ing examinations of conscience.
There are preachers, too, going up
and down the town, proclaiming
that this is visitation Of God upon
the new Sodom, The people are lis
tening. They are beginning to point
to Whitehall as the source of all the
offences that have provoked the wrath
of Heaven. And they don't love you,
Bucks, any more than they love me.
They don't understand us, and-to be
plain-our names, yours and mine and
several others. are beginning to stink