Part 98 (2/2)

”That may be,” carelessly Piers made answer. ”Nearly everyone is more or less scared. I'm not. It's going to be a mighty struggle--a t.i.tanic struggle--but we shall come out on top.”

”At a frightful cost,” Crowther said.

Piers leapt to his feet. ”We shan't s.h.i.+rk it on that account. See here, Crowther! I'll tell you something--if you'll swear to keep it dark!”

Crowther looked up at the eager, glowing face and a very tender look came into his own. ”Well, Piers?” he said.

Piers caught him suddenly by the shoulders. ”Crowther, Crowther, old chap, congratulate me! I took--the King's s.h.i.+lling--to-day!”

”Ah!” Crowther said.

He gripped Piers' arms tightly, feeling the vitality of him pulse in every sinew, every tense nerve. And before his mental sight there rose the dread vision of war--the insatiable--striding like a devouring monster over a whole continent. With awful clearness he saw the fields of slain...

His eyes came back to Piers, splendid in the fire of his youth, flushed already with the grim joy of the coming conflict. He got up slowly, still looking into the handsome, olive face with its patrician features and arrogant self-confidence. And a cold hand seemed to close upon his heart.

”Oh, boy!” he said.

Piers frowned upon him, still half-laughing. ”What? Are we down-hearted?

Buck up, man! Congratulate me! I was one of the first.”

But congratulation stuck in Crowther's throat. ”I wish this had come--twenty years ago!” was all he found to say.

”Thank Heaven it didn't!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Piers. ”Why, don't you see it's the one thing for me--about the only stroke of real luck I've ever had in my life?”

”And your wife doesn't know?” said Crowther.

”She does not. And I won't have her told. Mind that!” Piers' voice was suddenly determined. ”She knows I shan't keep out of it, and that's enough. If she wants me--which she won't--she can get at me through Victor or one of them. But that won't happen. Don't you worry yourself as to that, my good Crowther! I know jolly well what I'm doing. Don't you see it's the chance of my life? Do you think I'm going to miss it, what?”

”I think you're going to break her heart,” Crowther said gravely.

”That's because you don't understand,” Piers made steady reply. ”Nothing will alter so long as I stay. But this war is going to alter everything.

We shall none of us come out of it as we went in. When I come back--things will be different.”

He spoke sombrely. The boyish ardour had gone out of him. Something of fatefulness, something of solemn realization, of steadfast fort.i.tude, had taken its place.

”I tell you, Crowther,” he said, ”I am not doing this thing without weighing the cost. But--I haven't much to lose, and I've all to gain.

Even if it doesn't do--what I hope, it'll steady me down, it'll make a man of me--and not--a murderer.”

His voice sank on the last word. He freed himself from Crowther's hold and turned away.

Once more he opened the window to the roar of London's life; and so standing, with his back to Crowther, he spoke again jerkily, with obvious effort. ”Do you remember telling me that something would turn up?

Well,--it has. I'm waiting to see what will come of it. But--if it's any satisfaction to you to know it--I've got clear of my own particular h.e.l.l at last. I haven't got very far, mind, and it's a beastly desert road I'm on. But I know it'll lead somewhere; so I shall stick to it now.”

He paused a moment; then flung round and faced Crowther with a certain air of triumph.

”Meantime, old chap, don't you worry yourself about either of us! My wife will go to her friend Mrs. Lorimer till I come home again. Then possibly, with any luck, she'll come to me.”

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