Part 38 (1/2)

The incredulity had vanished from his face. Distress had replaced it.

”It is all true, no doubt,” he went on, ”but for the moment I don't understand it. Will you tell me where your camp is?”

”I will show you the way,” said Warrisden.

”I think not. It will be better that we should not be seen together,”

Stretton said thoughtfully. ”Will you give me the direction and go first? I will follow.”

Warrisden's camp was pitched amongst trees a hundred yards from the western borders of the village. It stood in a garden of gra.s.s, enclosed with hedges. Thither Stretton found his way by a roundabout road, approaching the camp from the side opposite to Ain-Sefra. There was no one, at the moment, loitering about the spot. He walked into the garden. There were three tents pitched. Half a dozen mules stood picketed in a line, a little Barbary horse lay on the gra.s.s, some Algerian muleteers were taking their ease, and outside the chief tent a couple of camp chairs were placed. Warrisden came forward as Stretton entered the garden.

”Sit down,” he said.

”Inside the tent, I think,” replied Stretton.

There he read the letter through again. He understood at last what Pamela had meant by the warning which had baffled him. Pamela revealed its meaning now. ”Millie is not of those women,” she wrote, ”who have a vivid remembrance. To hold her, you must be near her. Go away, she will cry her eyes out; stay away for a little while, she will long for your return; make that little while a longer time, she will grow indifferent whether you return or not; prolong that longer time, she will regard your return as an awkwardness, a disturbance; add yet a little more to that longer time, and you will find another occupying your place in her thoughts.” Then followed an account of the growth of that dangerous friends.h.i.+p between Millie and Lionel Callon. A summary of Callon's character rounded the description off. ”So come home,” she concluded, ”at once, for no real harm has been done yet.”

Stretton understood what the last sentence meant, and he believed it.

Yet his mind revolted against the phrase. Of course, it was Pamela's phrase. Pamela, though frank, was explaining the position in words which could best spare Millie. But it was an unfortunate sentence. It provoked a momentary wave of scorn, which swept over Stretton. There was a postscript: ”You yourself are really a good deal to blame.” Thus it ran; but Stretton was in no mood to weigh its justice or injustice at the moment. Only this afternoon he had been lying under the palm trees putting together in his mind the sentences which were to tell Millie of his success, to re-establish him in her esteem, and to prepare her for his return. And now this letter had come. He sat for a time frowning at the letter, turning its pages over, glancing now at one phrase, now at another. Then he folded it up. ”Callon,” he said, softly; and then again, ”Lionel Callon. I will talk with Mr. Callon.”

For all its softness, his voice sounded to Warrisden the voice of a dangerous man. And after he had spoken in this way he sat in thought, saying nothing, making no movement, and his face gave Warrisden no clue as to what he thought. At the last he stirred in his chair.

”Well?” said Warrisden.

”I shall return at once to England.”

”You can?”

”Yes; I shall start to-night,” said Stretton.

”We can go back together, then.”

”No; that's impossible.”

”Why?” asked Warrisden.

”Because I should be arrested if we did,” Stretton replied calmly.

”Arrested?” Warrisden exclaimed.

”Yes; you see I shall have to desert to-night.”

Warrisden started from his chair.

”Surely there is an alternative?”

”None,” replied Stretton; and Warrisden slowly resumed his seat. He was astounded; he had never contemplated this possibility. He looked at Stretton in wonder. He could not understand how a man could speak so calmly of such a plan. Why in the world had Stretton ever joined the Legion if he was so ready, at the first summons, to desert? There seemed an inconsistency. But he did not know Tony Stretton.

”You are surprised,” said Tony. ”More than surprised--you are rather shocked; but there is no choice for me. I wish with all my heart and soul there were,” he suddenly exclaimed, with a sort of pa.s.sion. ”I have foreseen this necessity ever since you tapped me on the shoulder in the lane. Because I foresaw it, I would not walk with you to your camp. Were we seen together to-day, the reason of my absence might be the sooner suspected. As it is, I shall get a day's start, for I have a good name in the regiment, and a day's start is all I need.”

He spoke sadly and wistfully. He was caught by an inexorable fate, and knew it. He just had to accept the one course open to him.