Part 28 (2/2)
”Of course no,” said Corp, ”but--wha is he?”
”Himsel',” whispered Tommy, ”the Chevalier!”
Corp hesitated. ”But, I thought,” he said diffidently, ”I thought you--”
”So I am,” said Tommy.
”But you said he hadna landed yet?”
”Neither he has.”
”But you--”
”Well?”
”You're here, are you no?”
Tommy stamped his foot in irritation. ”You're slow in the uptak,” he said. ”I'm no here. How can I be here when I'm at St. Germains?”
”Dinna be angry wi' me,” Corp begged. ”I ken you're ower the water, but when I see you, I kind of forget; and just for the minute I think you're here.”
”Well, think afore you speak.”
”I'll try, but that's teuch work. When do you come to Scotland?”
”I'm no sure; but as soon as I'm ripe.”
At nights Tommy now sometimes lay among the cabbages of the school-house watching the shadow of Black Cathro on his sitting-room blind. Cathro never knew he was there. The reason Tommy lay among the cabbages was that there was a price upon his head.
”But if Black Cathro wanted to get the blood-money,” Corp said apologetically, ”he could nab you any day. He kens you fine.”
Tommy smiled meaningly. ”Not him,” he answered, ”I've cheated him bonny, he hasna a notion wha I am. Corp, would you like a good laugh?”
”That I would.”
”Weel, then, I'll tell you wha he thinks I am. Do you ken a little house yont the road a bitty irae Monypenny?”
”I ken no sic house,” said Corp, ”except Aaron's.”
”Aaron's the man as bides in it,” Tommy continued hastily, ”at least I think that's the name. Well, as you ken the house, you've maybe noticed a laddie that bides there too?”
”There's no laddie,” began Corp, ”except--”
”Let me see,” interrupted Tommy, ”what was his name? Was it Peter? No.
Was it Willie? Stop, I mind, it was Tommy.”
He glared so that Corp dared not utter a word.
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