Part 19 (1/2)
”Yes.”
”How could it affect you? You did not even know my name then?”
Poor Iris! She did not stop to ask herself why she framed her question in such manner, but the sailor was now too profoundly moved to heed the slip. She could not tell how he was fighting with himself, fiercely beating down the inner barriers of self-love, sternly determined, once and for all, to reveal himself in such light to this beautiful and bewitching woman that in future she would learn to regard him only as an outcast whose company she must perforce tolerate until relief came.
”It affected me because the sudden mention of his name recalled my own disgrace. I quitted the army six months ago, Miss Deane, under very painful circ.u.mstances. A general court-martial found me guilty of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. I was not even given a chance to resign. I was cas.h.i.+ered.”
He pretended to speak with cool truculence. He thought to compel her into shrinking contempt. Yet his face blanched somewhat, and though he steadily kept the pipe between his teeth, and smoked with studied unconcern, his lips twitched a little.
And he dared not look at her, for the girl's wondering eyes were fixed upon him, and the blush had disappeared as quickly as it came.
”I remember something of this,” she said slowly, never once averting her gaze. ”There was some gossip concerning it when I first came to Hong Kong. You are Captain Robert Anstruther?”
”I am.”
”And you publicly thrashed Lord Ventnor as the result of a quarrel about a woman?”
”Your recollection is quite accurate.”
”Who was to blame?”
”The lady said that I was.”
”Was it true?”
Robert Anstruther, late captain of Bengal Cavalry, rose to his feet. He preferred to take his punishment standing.
”The court-martial agreed with her, Miss Deane, and I am a prejudiced witness,” he replied.
”Who was the--lady?”
”The wife of my colonel, Mrs. Costobell.”
”Oh!”
Long afterwards he remembered the agony of that moment, and winced even at the remembrance. But he had decided upon a fixed policy, and he was not a man to flinch from consequences. Miss Deane must be taught to despise him, else, G.o.d help them both, she might learn to love him as he now loved her. So, blundering towards his goal as men always blunder where a woman's heart is concerned, he blindly persisted in allowing her to make such false deductions as she chose from his words.
Iris was the first to regain some measure of self-control.
”I am glad you have been so candid, Captain Anstruther,” she commenced, but he broke in abruptly--
”Jenks, if you please, Miss Deane. Robert Jenks.”
There was a curious light in her eyes, but he did not see it, and her voice was marvelously subdued as she continued--
”Certainly, Mr. Jenks. Let me be equally explicit before we quit the subject. I have met Mrs. Costobell. I do not like her. I consider her a deceitful woman. Your court-martial might have found a different verdict had its members been of her s.e.x. As for Lord Ventnor, he is nothing to me. It is true he asked my father to be permitted to pay his addresses to me, but my dear old dad left the matter wholly to my decision, and I certainly never gave Lord Ventnor any encouragement. I believe now that Mrs. Costobell lied, and that Lord Ventnor lied, when they attributed any dishonorable action to you, and I am glad that you beat him in the Club. I am quite sure he deserved it.”
Not one word did this strange man vouchsafe in reply. He started violently, seized the axe lying at his feet, and went straight among the trees, keeping his face turned from Iris so that she might not see the tears in his eyes.