Part 56 (2/2)
He walked across the room to the fireplace and stood with his back to them, his hand mechanically altering the order of a procession of black elephants that stood there.
Aymer broke the silence, speaking with clear evenness.
”Shakleton, will you take Mr. Saunderson into the library. You will find my brother there, probably.”
”Certainly, Mr. Aston. Shall I leave these?” He indicate the papers on the table before him.
”Yes. Leave them where they are.”
Mr. Saunderson rose. ”You must not be alarmed, my dear sir,” he said in a forced whisper, with a glance towards Christopher, ”such news often takes a man off his feet for a while. He'll soon appreciate it.”
”No doubt. Order anything you like, Shakleton.”
They were alone at last, yet Christopher did not move.
”Christopher, come to me,” called Aymer quietly.
At that he turned and walked mechanically to the sofa, seating himself, again with his elbows on his knees, and his eyes absently fixed on the carpet.
”Did you know this before, Caesar?”
Aymer's face twitched. ”Yes, always.”
”Did--he--know?”
”Yes, apparently.”
”You did not tell him?”
”No.”
Christopher looked up sharply and met his eyes, and again he forgot his own intimate trouble before the greater one.
”Thanks, Caesar,” he said, dragging up a smile, ”it would have been far harder at your hand.”
Then suddenly he sunk on his knees by Aymer's side, and hid his head against the arm that had sheltered him as a child.
”They can't make me take it,” he whispered, ”even if I am his son. But Caesar, Caesar, why didn't you tell me before?”
”I hoped you would never know. Did you never have any suspicion yourself?”
”Never. It was the last thing I should have imagined.”
”You have never asked me anything. You must sometimes have wondered about yourself.”
”I was quite content.” Christopher spoke with shut teeth. Under no provocation must Caesar know the falsehood that had lain so long in his mind. He saw it in its full proportion now, and hated himself for his blindness in harbouring so ugly a thought.
”We were never certain how much Peter knew and I've never known for the past three years whether he meant to claim you or not.”
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