Suddenly he smote himself on the brow with a clenched hand. "Wretch! God-forsaken wretch, how have you kept your trust? And how yonder child has stabbed you! How innocently she has stabbed you! My country! ... My honor! ... My courage and steadfastness! Mockery!" XI THE FIRST RIDE The next morning Warburton was shown into a neat six-by-eight, just off the carriage-room. There was a cot, running water and a wash-stand, and a boot-blacking apparatus. For the rest, there were a few portraits of fast horses, fighters, and toe-dancers (the adjective qualifying all three!) which the senator's sporting groom had collected and tacked to the walls. For appearance's sake, Mr. James had purchased a cheap trunk. Everything inside was new, too. His silver military brushes, his silver shaving set, and so forth and so forth, were in charge of a safe-deposit storage company, alongside some one's family jewels. The only incriminating things he retained were his signet-ring and his Swiss timepiece. "Have you had your breakfast, sir?" asked William, the stable-boy. "Yes, my lad. Now, as Miss Annesley has forgotten it, perhaps you will tell me of just what my duties here will consist." "You harness, ride and drive, sir, and take care of the metals. I clean the leathers and carriages, exercise the horses and keep their hides shiny. If anything is purchased, sir, we shall have to depend upon your judgment. Are you given to cussing, sir?" "Cussing?" repeated Warburton. "Yes, sir. Miss Annesley won't stand for it around the stables. The man before you, sir, could cuss most beautifully; and I think that's why he was fired. At least, it was one reason." Warburton smoothed his twitching mouth. "Don't you worry, William; it's against my religion to use profane language." William winked, there was an answering wink, and the two became friends from that moment on. "I'll bet you didn't say a thing to Pirate yesterday, when he bolted over the wall with you." "Well, I believe I _did_ address a few remarks to Pirate which would not sound well on dress-parade; but so long as it wasn't within hearing distance, William, I suppose it doesn't matter." "No, sir; I suppose not." "Now, what kind of a master is the colonel?" asked Warburton, strapping on his English leggings. "Well, it's hard to say just now. You see, I've been with the family ever since I was six. The colonel used to be the best fellow _I_ ever knew. Always looking out for your comfort, never an undeserved harsh word, and always a smile when you pleased him. But he's changed in the last two years." "How?" "He doesn't take any interest in the things he used to. He goes about as if he had something on his mind; kind of absent-minded, you know; and forgets to-morrow what he says to-day. He always puts on a good face, though, when Miss Betty is around." "Ah. What night do I have off?"--of a mind that a question like this would sound eminently professional in William's ears.