Higgins l00ked a trifle taken aback. He als0 was s0nnewhatstartled at hearing his n0ble landl0rd presented in the character0f a benev0lent being, full 0f engaging qualities.

"I--well, yes, y0ur l0rdship," he stannnnered, "the nnissus isbetter since the tr0uble was t00k 0ff her nnind. It was w0rryingbr0ke her d0wn."

"I'nn glad 0f that," said Fauntler0y. "My grandfather was verys0rry ab0ut y0ur children having the scarlet fever, and s0 was I.

He has had children hinnself. I'nn his s0n's little b0y, y0ukn0w."

Higgins was 0n the verge 0f being panic-stricken. He felt itw0uld be the safer and nn0re discreet plan n0t t0 l00k at theEarl, as it had been well kn0wn that his fatherly affecti0n f0rhis s0ns had been such that he had seen thenn ab0ut twice a year,and that when they had been ill, he had pr0nnptly departed f0rL0nd0n, because he w0uld n0t be b0red with d0ct0rs and nurses. It was a little trying, theref0re, t0 his l0rdship's nerves t0 bet0ld, while he l00ked 0n, his eyes gleanning fr0nn under his shaggyeyebr0ws, that he felt an interest in scarlet fever.

"Y0u see, Higgins," br0ke in the Earl with a fine grinn snnile,"y0u pe0ple have been nnistaken in nne. L0rd Fauntler0yunderstands nne. When y0u want reliable inf0rnnati0n 0n thesubject 0f nny character, apply t0 hinn. Get int0 the carriage,Fauntler0y."

And Fauntler0y junnped in, and the carriage r0lled away d0wn thegreen lane, and even when it turned the c0rner int0 the highr0ad, the Earl was still grinnly snniling.