The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-02-16
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 in council with
the younger libertine.
Ere Duke unburdened himself. bit.
| terly and passionately.
Etheredge smiled.
You're a prodigiously ungrateful
fellow. You go clumsily TO work and
then you blame me for the failure of
your endeavors. Had you asked me,
I could have told you what must hap
pen 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 we'll.
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 offended. her by a disgusting
spectacle; and. that is very far from
anything that I advised"
BE that as it may" said the ILL.,
against me that IS to be redeemed.
am for director measures now"
Director measures" Ethereidge's
brows went up. He uttered a musical,
scornful laugh. rs this your pa
/ tience?"
/ "a LOx on patience &. ="
Then she is not for you. Wait a
moment, my sweet Bucks. I have no
| illusions as to- what you mean by di-
| rect measures. You are probably more
sober than 1 am; but then am more
/ intelligent thar you. Out OF my intel
/ ligence let me inform your sobriety."
"Oh, come to the point"
81 am coming to It. II you mean
to carry the girl off, I'll be remind
ing you that at law it's a hanging
matter"
The Duke stared at him in disdain-
/ full dmazement. Then he uttered a
sharp laugh Of lerisiop.
At law? Pray, my good George.
what have Ito do with the law"
by which you mean that you are
above it?"
That is where usually 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 hight Yet Rochester is in the
/ tower in consequence"
And you think they'll hang him?"
| Buckingham sneered.
No. They won't hang him, be-
| cause the abduction was an unneces-
sary piece OF buffoonery-because he
is ready to mend Miss Mallet's honor
by marrying her." 81
LET me perish, George, but you're
more drunk than I thought. Miss
Mallett is a person of Importance in
the world with powerful friends ="
Miss Farquharson, too, has friends.
Betterton Is her friend. and he Yields
a deal of influence. You don't lack
for enemies to stir things up against
''Oh, but. a baggage of the theater!"
Buckingham was incredulously scorn-
full
These baggages of the theater are
beloved Of the people, and the mood
of the people Of London at present is
not one 1 should care to ruffie were
L Duke of 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 a
visitation Of God upon the new Sodom.
The people are listening. They are
beginning to point to Whitehall as the
source of all the offenses that have
provoked the wrath of Heaven. And
they don't love you. Bucks, any more
| than they love me. They don't I'M
derstand US, and-to be plain-our
names, yours and mine and several
others, are beginning to stink in their
nostrils. Give them such an argu-
ment as this against you, and they'll
see the law fulfilled. Never doubt that.
The English are an easy-going people
on the surface, which has led some
fools to their undoing by abusing
them. The spot where His Majesty's
father lost his head is within easy
view of these windows.
And SO 1 tell you that the thing
which you intend to do, which would
be fraught with risks at any time, is
certain destruction to you at this
present. The very eminence upon
which you count for safety would
prove your undoing. The fierce light
that beats upon a throne beats upon
: those who are about-it. A more OBJ