Part 10 (1/2)
”I don't understand you,” he said. ”Why has my cousin a distaste for my society? We have never been in collision. As a matter of fact, he was best man at my wedding.”
”It is to be supposed that he read the account of your divorce,” said the other, stolidly. ”He has now made the acquaintance of your wife's relations.”
”I see,” said Landon, slowly. ”Is that all?”
”Isn't it enough? Are you generally received?”
There was something callous, almost brutal, in the man's tone. The tiny spot of color which began to burn in Landon's sallow cheek was evidence that he recognized it.
”So,” he answered, ”I am to eat dirt at the hands of Captain John Aylmer? I am to appear to like it? Why?”
”Because,” said Miller, dispa.s.sionately, ”you are practically penniless. That is your side of the question. Our side is that your cousin happens to be what he is--Secretary to the Military Works Commission, who hold the immediate future of Gibraltar in their hands.”
For the second time, and through a longer silence, the two stared at each other. As the fiery torch of comprehension burned brightly on Landon's face, rose to his forehead, seemed, indeed, to gleam in his eyes, his lips, which were at first grim and rigid, curled slowly into a sneer.
”By the Lord!” he swore. ”By the Lord, Miller, you have an impudence!”
”I have a knowledge of values,” said the other, impa.s.sively. ”I wish to get my commission both ways. I expect it from you, because you get the job from no one else. I expect it from my employers, because you are practically the only tool at present, which they can use. I am perfectly open with you.”
”As open as the Pit!” snarled Landon. ”As candid as midnight! Let's have a taste of it plainly. What is it you want of me--robbery?”
Miller made a gesture of deprecation.
”I want you to--borrow--unknown to your cousin, certain books, the nature of which will be indicated to you in detail.”
”And if I don't?”
”You must, at any rate, try.”
”And if I won't?”
Miller smiled.
”We don't discuss absurdities.”
There was nothing manifestly menacing in this, but there was a sense of finality. It reached Landon like a shaft of cold air blown in through the suddenly opened door. Mentally he flinched from it; he lifted his shoulders into a shrug of resignation.
”Where are his quarters?”
”In the South Town near my own cottage. For the moment that does not matter. You meet him to-morrow, by accident. You do not know, you see, that he is here?”
He consulted a small time-table.
”We should be on the quay about three-thirty to-morrow, when the steamer gets in from Tangier.”
For the second time Landon expressed surrender with a pa.s.sive shrug.
CHAPTER VI
LANDON'S NEW PROFESSION