Part 10 (2/2)
As Despard and Aylmer pa.s.sed out of the dark of the Waterport into the sunlight of the square, two men, who walked in front of them, halted, shook hands, appeared to exchange an informal farewell, and separated.
One, clad in gray flannels and a gray sombrero, turned to the left and began to mount the ramp behind the barracks. The other strolled slowly on.
The two soldiers fresh from their crossing of the straits from Africa were hailed and questioned more than once by comrades or friends who had not been fortunate enough to share in leave for the Tent Club meeting and were anxious for the last details of sport. How did pig run this time? Had such and such coverts been burned as was reported? What luck had they had personally? Despard and Aylmer had to halt half a dozen times within the first two furlongs. They began to regret that they had not taken a cab.
The man who strolled along in front of them halted, too, here and there.
He did not appear to look round, but whenever acquaintances b.u.t.tonholed the pair behind him it was noticeable that shop windows or Moorish curio sellers claimed his attention. He lingered, indeed, opposite a well-known book shop till his sudden resumption of his stroll brought him into collision with the others at the exact moment of their pa.s.sing.
He started, muttered a perfunctory apology, and then made an exclamation.
”Jack!” he cried gladly, and held out his hand.
Aylmer met his cousin's glance, first with surprise, then with a sudden stiffening of his lips, finally with frowning. He gave a side glance at Despard.
The major's face was transfigured with wrath and loathing. He was looking at Landon as he might have looked at a poisonous reptile. He drew back a step of instinctive repulsion.
Landon gave a bitter little laugh. He still held out his hand defiantly.
”Isn't it fit to be shaken, Jack?” he asked. ”Have I to thank the Galahad at your side for that?”
Despard's eyes grew grim and set. He turned to Aylmer and nodded coldly.
”See you later,” he suggested, without another look in Landon's direction, and pa.s.sed on his way with unhesitating strides. Venomously, malignantly, Landon watched him go.
”I don't wonder he won't face me!” he cried with well-simulated pa.s.sion.
”By G.o.d, I don't!”
He turned and stared at his cousin. Aylmer met his gaze coolly, unhesitatingly, and without a trace of relenting. For the second time Landon's bitter laugh escaped him.
”You've had his version?” he said. ”Well, I don't altogether wonder at you in that case.”
”I don't understand you,” said Aylmer, quietly. ”The public prints have made it quite evident that you're not fit for the society of decent men, if that is what you mean.”
”No!” snarled Landon. ”It isn't what I mean. What I mean is that that blackguard who's just left us, curse him! has won all round. He took my wife from me and now he's taken my reputation, my honor, and he's gone far to take every friend I have. But by the Lord who made me, Jack, I thought that you might be left with some sense of justice!”
”Justice?”
Aylmer's voice made an echo to Landon's. ”Justice?” he repeated. ”You got that, or less than that in most men's opinion, in the divorce court.”
”I didn't!” said Landon, fiercely. ”Ah, they made a pretty story of it!
The blackguard who knocked his wife about, who thrashed his child, who took his wife's allowance and flung it under a dunghill of drink and devilry. That was me! Who gave evidence? The wife herself, who has since gone into a lunatic asylum. Servants who were bought with that old miser's gold. The man who wanted her--Despard!”
In spite of himself Aylmer gave an almost imperceptible quiver of surprise.
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