Part 28 (2/2)

As the child ran forward, he caught him deftly and without a pause of energy tossed him up and out into the sunlight. Aylmer heard the boy's cry of welcome and laugh of delight, as his footsteps pattered over the roof of the cellar and were lost. Muhammed, whoever that might be, was evidently not far away.

His father settled down upon his seat again.

”That,” he said, with an upward jerk of the shoulder towards the opening above his head, ”that is one of the things I have been robbed of. Also my comfort, my credit, my security, my ease. I have had to endure unpleasantness. I have had to descend, though as a mental exercise I do not count it a descent, to crime. Life, in fact, has been difficult for me lately, owing to the action of certain people--with whom you appear to have allied yourself. You and they have to get matters in a different perspective. Your efforts in future must be for, not against, me. They must, indeed, be directed to effacing unfortunate circ.u.mstances in the past which are detrimental to my well-being. That must be fully understood before we even begin to talk of terms.”

He looked up at Aylmer with a sudden quick, speculative flash of the eyes. The other met it steadily and equably.

”Have we begun--to discuss terms?” he asked.

”No!” Landon snapped the monosyllable with contemptuous emphasis. ”No! I don't discuss them, let me tell you. I make them!”

Aylmer met the announcement with a smile.

”Ah,” he said quietly, and something in his tone seemed to whip Landon's restrained spite over the border-line of fury.

”d.a.m.n you!” he cried, ”do you think I can't and won't humble the lot of you; do you think I'm to be robbed of the winning ace now, when I've got it in my hand? I tell you there isn't a thing in me you can appeal to.

I've shunted notions; I'm out for the stuff; I'm in business for myself, for me!”

He swayed to and fro upon the carcase, his face livid, his fingers unconsciously twining and plaiting the dead animal's mane. His teeth flashed, attracting, as it were, the core of the little light which reached the gloom--attracting it to intensify his fierce animal fury.

For, as he swayed, and swore, the teeth shone behind his red lips like the fangs of a cornered wolf.

And then, suddenly, darkly, the emotion was planed from his face. His features became mask-like in their imperturbability.

”You had better listen carefully,” he said. ”First, I keep the boy. That goes without saying. I've got him. Secondly, they give me their engagement under bond not to molest me in my possession of him if I choose to visit America or England, or even if I marry again. Thirdly, old man Van Arlen pays me ten thousand pounds--pounds, mind, not dollars--within a week from now, and on the same date every year.

Fourthly, you explain away the matter of the book I borrowed from your library. Explain it as you like; say I was drunk or insane or any sort of lie which suits you best. You'll have to give me your word of honor to do your best about that; I'll take it, because I know you believe in these s.h.i.+bboleths. Lastly, they're to keep quiet while I have a free hand with Despard.”

Aylmer gave an involuntary start, and Landon snarled--there is no other word for it--with savage rage.

”By G.o.d, they've got to stand by and see me break him! He's hunted me through the courts and through the press of two hemispheres. He shall have his turn. Not all in a moment, either. A word here and a word there. A paragraph or two where they can't well be missed. Then rumors, and then a circ.u.mstantial story. Rush him into action and then, slowly, thoroughly, and perfectly plainly, bowl him out. Eh, that will be the gilded roof on the whole thing. Despard down in the mud--Despard ...

broken!”

His fingers ceased their wandering. He sat motionless, his eyes staring gloatingly into the gloom over Aylmer's head. It was as if he saw visions of evil triumph limned upon the walls.

Aylmer lay very still. The sense of inertia which had been overpowering when consciousness first revived was pa.s.sing away. His brain was clear.

He realized that for all practical purposes he was in the hands of a madman, or of a man so far enthralled by a very possession of wickedness that he might be reckoned insane. There was nothing to do but await events.

Landon dropped his eyes.

”Do you see?” he asked. ”That's your job. To go to them and tell them.

Do you understand?”

Aylmer shook his head.

”I hear your price--for what?” he asked. ”It's a one-sided bargain, so far.”

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