Part 35 (1/2)
”I suppose it is,” said Cap.
”Then it must be long past your usual hour of retiring.”
”Of course it is,” said Cap.
”Then what are you waiting for?”
”For my company to go home,” replied Cap.
”Meaning me?”
”Meaning you.”
”Oh, don't mind me, my dear.”
”Very well,” said Cap, ”I shall not trouble myself about you,” and her tones were steady, though her heart seemed turned into a ball of ice, through terror.
Black Donald went on slowly sipping his egg-nog, filling up his goblet when it was empty, and looking at Capitola over the top of his gla.s.s.
At last he said:
”I have been watching you, Miss Black.”
”Little need to tell me that,” said Cap.
”And I have been reading you.”
”Well, I hope the page was entertaining.”
”Well, yes, my dear, it was, rather so. But why don't you proceed?”
”Proceed--with what?”
”With what you are thinking of, my darling.”
”I don't understand you!”
”Why don't you offer to go down-stairs and bring up some lemons?”
”Oh, I'll go in a moment,” said Cap, ”if you wish.”
”Ha--ha--ha--ha--ha! Of course you will, my darling! And you'd deliver me into the hands of the Philistines, just as you did my poor men when you fooled them about the victuals! I know your tricks and all your acting has no other effect on me than to make me admire your wonderful coolness and courage; so, my dear, stop puzzling your little head with schemes to baffle me! You are like the caged starling! You can't--get--out!” chuckled Black Donald, hitching his chair nearer to hers. He was now right upon the center of the rug.
Capitola turned very pale, but not with fear, though Black Donald thought she did, and roared with laughter.
”Have you done your supper?” she asked, with a sort of awful calmness.
”Yes my duck,” replied the outlaw, pouring the last of the egg-nog into his goblet, drinking it at a draught and chuckling as he set down the gla.s.s.
Capitola then lifted the stand with the refreshments to remove it to its usual place.