Part 40 (1/2)

Desmond made a little sign of concurrence. ”The boy probably sold us, or your friend Dom Clemente was too clever for him. One could fancy that is a very capable man. Anyway, while I was considering how we could arrange to get you off we went to sleep last night in a belt of gra.s.s. I took the precaution of sending two sentries out, and I don't know yet why they didn't warn me, but when I awakened early this morning there was a white officer standing over me. As he had several black soldiers with him and we were evidently at his mercy I came along with him. I don't think there was any other course open to me.”

”You have done what you could. You brought me no message from Las Palmas?”

Desmond, who once more appeared uneasy, sat silent for a moment or two. Then he leaned forward a trifle with a flush in his face.

”I don't know how you'll take it, but, as a matter of fact, I did,” he said. ”I brought a letter which Mrs. Ratcliffe gave me, and I believe there was another from Miss Ratcliffe inside it. Unfortunately, one of your friends here confiscated it not long ago as well as every other sc.r.a.p of paper in my possession.”

”They sent me no word when you left Las Palmas before,” said Ormsgill with a portentous quietness, though there were signs of tension in his face. Then he straightened himself suddenly. ”You are keeping something back. It concerns Ada?”

”It does, and I'm particularly sorry your friends seized that letter.

This is an affair I should greatly have preferred to leave in Mrs.

Ratcliffe's hands. She”--and Desmond made a little vague gesture--”is a lady of considerable ability and has no doubt explained the thing much more satisfactorily than I could do.”

”Go on,” said Ormsgill with sharp incisiveness.

Desmond, who still hesitated, looked at him in a curious deprecatory fas.h.i.+on.

”Well,” he said, ”the fact is Miss Ratcliffe was married the day before I left Las Palmas.”

In another moment Ormsgill was on his feet, and his laugh jarred on Desmond's ears.

”Married!” he said hoa.r.s.ely, clenching one hand tight. ”And I've thrown away everything to keep faith with her.”

Desmond made a little restraining gesture. ”Well,” he said, ”it's not my business, but I think I understand what you are referring to--and, perhaps, it's scarcely wise to be too sure. With all deference to Mrs.

Ratcliffe I can't help fancying you are well out of the other matter.

After all, to mention no other reason, it would require a certain amount of courage to recognize that lady as one's mother-in-law.”

Ormsgill, who made no answer, turned towards the door, and spoke a few words to the sentry. The latter called to one of his comrades, and Ormsgill, after giving the man a message came back again and sat down quietly.

”I have asked if I may have the letter,” he said.

It was brought him ten minutes later unopened, and he sat very still for awhile after he had read it. Then there was bitterness in his laugh.

”It is in one sense a masterly production,” he said. ”In fact, both of them are. I am a.s.sured that Mrs. Ratcliffe recognized all along that we were never made for one another.” He turned, and grasped his companion's shoulder. ”Can you tell me anything about this paragon who, it seems, has married Ada?”

A little twinkle crept into Desmond's eyes. ”I never heard him called anything of that kind before. Lister, you see, is an unlicked colt, and n.o.body could have said very much to his credit until lately.

Still, he seems to be making an effort to rub out certain defects in his character, and if Miss Ratcliffe can only keep it up they may get along tolerably well together.”

”Keep it up?”

Desmond smiled again. ”It's probably somewhat delicate ground, but the thing has its whimsical aspect. You see he, perhaps, naturally, regards Miss Ratcliffe as the incarnation of honor and every other estimable equality, which is apt to make her role rather a difficult one. I have no doubt her mother has asked you very tactfully not to say anything that might render it harder still if you ever come across Lister, which, if she has any hand in his arrangements, is most unlikely.”

”There is a suggestion of that kind here,” and Ormsgill gazed at him very grim in face. ”You mean that they have not mentioned me to Lister.”

”I should consider it very improbable,” said Desmond dryly. ”As I ventured to suggest, you have, perhaps, after all, no very great cause for regret.”

Ormsgill, who said nothing, rose and walked several times up and down the shed, and then moved suddenly towards the door. He spoke a few words to the sentry, after which he sat down and waited for some little time, while Desmond smiled once or twice as he watched him.

Then the door was opened, and a black sergeant who appeared in the entrance signed to Ormsgill.