Part 21 (2/2)

”Would you have thought that he would turn out as he has?” she asked simply. ”You see, he appears to me so dark and baleful a figure that I cannot quite regard him as I regard you, for instance. I could not realise knowing such a man.”

”He had always a lot of audacity,” Kingsley replied slowly, ”and he certainly was a schemer in his way, but that came from his helpless poverty.”

”Was he very poor?” she asked eagerly.

”Always. And he got his estates heavily enc.u.mbered. Then there were people--old ladies--to have annuities, and many to be provided for, and there was little chance in England for him. Good-temper and brawn weren't enough.”

”Egypt's the place for mother-wit,” broke in d.i.c.ky. ”He had that anyhow.

As to his unscrupulousness, of course that's as you may look at it.”

”Was he always unscrupulous?” she asked. ”I have thought him cruel and wicked nationally--un-English, shamefully culpable; but a man who is unscrupulous would do mean low things, and I should like to think that Kingsley is a villain with good points. I believe he has them, and I believe that deep down in him is something English and honourable after all--something to be reckoned with, worked on, developed. See, here is a letter I had from him two days ago”--she drew it from her pocket and handed it over to d.i.c.ky. ”I cannot think him hopeless altogether... I freed the slaves who brought the letter, and sent them on to Cairo. Do you not feel it is hopeful?” she urged, as d.i.c.ky read the letter slowly, making sotto voce remarks meanwhile.

”Brigands and tyrants can be gallant--there are plenty of instances on record. What are six slaves to him?”

”He has a thousand to your one,” said Kingsley slowly, and as though not realising his words.

She started, sat up straight in her chair, and looked at him indignantly. ”I have no slaves,” she said.

Kingsley Bey had been watching the Circa.s.sian girl Mata, in the garden for some time, and he had not been able to resist the temptation to make the suggestion that roused her now.

”I think the letter rather high-flown,” said d.i.c.ky, turning the point, and handing the open page to Kingsley. ”It looks to me as though written with a purpose.”

”What a cryptic remark!” said Kingsley laughing, yet a little chagrined.

”What you probably wish to convey is that it says one thing and means another.”

”Suppose it does,” interposed the lady. ”The fact remains that he answered my appeal, which did not mince words, in most diplomatic and gentlemanly language. What do you think of the letter?” she asked, turning to Kingsley, and reaching a hand for it.

”I'll guarantee our friend here could do no better, if he sat up all night,” put in d.i.c.ky satirically.

”You are safe in saying so, the opportunity being lacking.” She laughed, and folded it up.

”I believe Kingsley Bey means what he says in that letter. Whatever his purpose, I honestly think that you might have great influence over him,”

mused d.i.c.ky, and, getting up, stepped from the veranda, as though to go to the bank where an incoming steamer they had been watching was casting anchor. He turned presently, however, came back a step and said ”You see, all our argument resolves itself into this: if Kingsley is to be smashed only Ismail can do it. If Ismail does it, Kingsley will have the desert for a bed, for he'll not run, and Ismail daren't spare him.

Sequel, all his fortune will go to the Khedive. Question, what are we going to do about it?”

So saying he left them, laughing, and went down the garden-path to the riverside. The two on the veranda sat silent for a moment, then Kingsley spoke.

”These weren't the things we talked about when we saw the clouds gather over Skaw Fell and the sun s.h.i.+ne on the Irish Sea. We've done and seen much since then. Mult.i.tudes have come and gone in the world--and I have grown grey!” he added with a laugh.

”I've done little-nothing, and I meant and hoped to do much,” she almost pleaded. ”I've grown grey too.”

”Not one grey hair,” he said, with an admiring look. ”Grey in spirit sometimes,” she reflected with a tired air. ”But you--forgive me, if I haven't known what you've done. I've lived out of England so long. You may be at the head of the Government, for all I know. You look to me as though you'd been a success. Don't smile. I mean it. You look as though you'd climbed. You haven't the air of an eldest son whose way is cut out for him, with fifty thousand a year for compensation. What have you been doing? What has been your work in life?”

”The opposite of yours.”

He felt himself a ruffian, but he consoled himself with the thought that the end at which he aimed was good. It seemed ungenerous to meet her simple honesty by such obvious repartee, but he held on to see where the trail would lead.

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