The Talisman Ring

The Beau opened the door for the ladies to pass out into the hall. Miss Thane went first, still chattering, leaving Eustacie to hang back for a moment, and to say in an urgent undertone to her cousin: “We came today because I have suddenly thought that perhaps you, who are very much of the world, could advise me. Only, you understand, I do not like to say anything before Sarah, because although she is extremely amiable, she is not, after all, of my family.”

He bowed. “I am always at your service, my dear cousin, even though I may be—surprised.”

“Surprised?” said Eustacie, with a look of childlike innocence.

“Well,” said the Beau softly, “you have not been precisely in the habit of seeking either my company or my advice, have you, ma chиre?”

“Oh!” said Eustacie, brushing that aside with a flutter of her expressive little hands, “quant a зa, when Grandpapa was alive I did not wish for anyone’s advice but his. But I find myself now in a situation of the most awkward.”

He looked at her with narrowed eyes, as though appraising her. “Yes, your situation is awkward,” he said. “I could show you how to end that.”

Miss Thane’s voice, requesting him to tell her whether the staircase was original, put an end to all private conversation. He followed Eustacie out into the hall, saying that he believed it was quite original.

Wine and sandwiches had been set out on the table in the dining parlour. While she ate, and sipped her glass of ratafia, Miss Thane took the opportunity of scrutinizing the wainscoting as closely as she dared. It was in two tiers, as Ludovic had described, the upper being composed of circular cartouches, carved with heads and devices, and separated from the lower by a broad frieze. The lower tier was divided vertically at every third panel by fluted pilasters with carved capitals. The whole was extremely beautiful, but the predominant thought in Miss Thane’s mind was that to find one particular boss, or carved fruit, amongst the wealth on the wall would be an arduous labour.

Her meaningless prattle flowed on; she could not help being diverted by her own idiocies; nor, though she did not like him, could she fail to give the Beau credit for unwearied civility. By the time she had exhibited her commonplace book (in which Sir Tristram had had the forethought to sketch a few rough pictures of totally imaginary houses), and hoped that her host would grant her the indulgence of drawing just a tiny corner of his lovely panelled dining parlour, her tongue was beginning to cleave to the roof of her mouth, and she heard with feelings of profound relief the ringing of a bell. It was at this moment that the Beau proposed escorting her to the library, in which room the wainscoting, though similar to that in the dining parlour, was generally held, he believed, to be superior. They passed out into the hall, just as the butler opened the front door to admit Sir Tristram. The first sound that met his ears as he stepped over the threshold was Miss Thane’s voice extolling the style of Torrigiano. A quiver of emotion for an instant disturbed the severity of his expression, but he controlled it immediately, and taking a hasty step forward, addressed Eustacie in outraged tones. “I have been to the Red Lion, and was told I should find you here! I do not understand what your purpose can have been in coming, for I particularly requested the favour of an interview with you this morning!”

Eustacie drew back with a gesture conveying both alarm and repugnance. “I told you I would not have any interview with you. I do not see why you must follow me, for it is not at all your affair that I choose to bring mademoiselle on a visit to my own cousin!”

“It is very much my affair, since I am held responsible for you!” he retorted.

The Beau intervened in his sweetest voice. “My dear Tristram, do pray come in! You are the very man of all others we need. I believe you are acquainted with Miss Thane?”

Sir Tristram bowed stiffly. “Miss Thane and I have met, but—”

“Nothing could be better! “ declared the Beau. “Miss Thane has done me the honour of coming to see my house, and, alas, you know how lamentably ignorant I am on questions of antiquity! But you, my dear fellow, know so much—”

“Oh!” exclaimed Miss Thane, clasping her hands together. “If it would not be troubling Sir Tristram—!”

Sir Tristram assumed the expression of a man forced against his will to be complaisant, and said somewhat ungraciously that he would, of course, be pleased to tell Miss Thane anything in his power. The Beau at once reminded him that the wainscoting in the library was held to be worthy of close study, and begged him to take Miss Thane there. He added that if she cared to make a sketch of the room, he was sure his cousin’s taste and knowledge would be of assistance to her.

“Eustacie and I will wait for you in the drawing-room,” he said.