Part 5 (2/2)
Aylmer smiled and prepared to give his attention again to his horse. It was left to Rattier to ruin the pyramid of stimulation.
”What tales?” he demanded laconically.
Absalaam's brown eyes met both question and questioner with melancholy--almost, indeed, with scorn. How could one t.i.tillate, how could one embroider, how could one work up to a brave display of interest, if bald facts were to be wrung from one at this stage of a tale? He sighed.
”Tales of his wealth and importance, Sidi,” he answered, in accents of subjection.
Rattier drew up the monocle which swung from a ribbon at his b.u.t.tonhole and concentrated his stare upon the Moor.
”Wealth?” he repeated tersely.
Absalaam opened his arms to their widest and held his palms emptily outflung.
”Wealth sufficient to buy all Tangier, all Fez, the whole of Mogrheb al Acksa, if a tenth of the reports be true. His life, therefore? How can one value it!”
He beamed upon them. He had been robbed of his slowly forged culmination, but he had, at least, been able to offer them a surprise.
Aylmer replaced upon the ground the hoof which he had been holding. He looked at the Moor good-humoredly.
”So the gossip mongers of the Sok credit this infant with riches?” he said. ”On what evidence, if any?”
Absalaam made a motion towards the sea.
”In the harbor, when you landed, did you observe a yacht, Sidi--a white boat, with lines of gold at her cut.w.a.ter and figurehead?”
”Yes.”
”That boat lies there at the service of that child. They have taken for him the Villa Eulalia; they have surrounded it with tents of men who are there to do no more than guard his safety; there are servants, horses, donkeys. The Gibraltar steamer brings packets of provisions or what not several times a week. In the town their money flows.”
Rattier dropped his eyegla.s.s.
”I think, _mon ami_,” he said slowly, ”that gold must be freer with them than grat.i.tude. Were you thanked for what you did? I don't seem to remember it.”
Aylmer shook his head.
”That is the mystery,” he agreed. ”I did little enough, but I was going to be thanked--till I disclosed my name. Then,” he shrugged his shoulders, ”you saw.”
He meditated a minute. Then he burst out laughing.
”I was not allowed even to hold him, and I am not at all sure that I am not his guardian!” he said suddenly.
Rattier's surprise was evident, but he managed to concentrate it in a monosyllable.
”Eh?” he demurred wonderingly.
Aylmer gave an emphatic nod of the head.
”I was coming home from China at the time of the marriage of my cousin Landon with this child's mother. I broke my journey in New York specially to attend it. And Landon, merely as a form, asked me as his kinsman to be a party to his settlement. In certain circ.u.mstances, including his death, I was to be one of the trustees for his children.”
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