Part 13 (1/2)
”If there is any shooting to be done,” he was saying, ”I think you had better begin with me”
His calmness seemed to exasperate Rodd, who lifted the revolver But I too was prepared, for in that house I alent aret at the man, as perhaps fifteen feet away, and I did not want to hurt him So I did the best I could; that is, I fired at the pistol in his hand, and the light being good, struck it near the hilt and knocked it off the barrel before the he could press the trigger, if he really ood shot,” remarked Ansob who had seen me, while Rodd stared at the hilt which he still held
”A lucky one,” I answered, walking forward ”And now, Dr Rodd, will you be so good as to tella revolver, presumably loaded, in the faces of a lady and an unarmed man?”
”What the devil is that to you,” he asked furiously, ”and what do you reat deal,” I answered, ”seeing that a young wo at you, had I done so you would not be asking questions now I fired at the pistol in your hand, but if there is lanced atthat I meant business he made no reply, but turned upon Marnham who had followed me
”This is your work, you old villain,” he said in a low voice that was heavy with hate ”You proed to me, and now I find her in this wanderer's arms”
”What have I to do with it?” said Marnhaed her mind You had better ask her”
”There is no need to ask ain ”I have changed my mind I never loved you, Dr Rodd, and I will not marry you I love Mr Ansob here, and as he has asked me to be his wife I mean to marry him”
”I see,” he sneered, ”you want to be a peeress one day, no doubt Well, you never shall if I can help it Perhaps, too, this fine gentleman of yours will not be so particularly anxious to hter of aa us We looked at each other as people, yet dazed with the shock, ht on a battlefield when the noise of the explosion has died and the smoke cleared away, to see who is still alive Ansob spoke the first
”I don't knohat you mean or to what you refer,” he said quietly ”But at any rate this lady who has promised to marry me is innocent, and therefore if all her ancestors had been htest turnher”
She looked at hihtened eyes Marnhaered forward, the blue vein throbbing on forehead
”He lies,” he said hoarsely, tugging at his long beard ”Listen now and I will tell you the truth Once, e In this state I fired at a Kaffir to frighten him, and by so a murderer”
”I have another tale,” said Rodd, ”hich I will not trouble this company just now Look here, Heda, either you fulfil your proasped and sank together on the seat as though she had been shot Then I took up my parable
”Are you the man,” I asked, ”to accuse others of crilish prison (I gave the name) for a crian
”Never mind, I do know and the prison books will show it Further, your business is that of selling guns and ah the expedition against them has been temporarily recalled, are still the Queen's enemies Don't deny it, for I have the proofs Further, it was you who advised Sekukuni to kill us ent down to his country to shoot the other day, because you were afraid that we should discover whence he got his guns” (This was a bon at a venture, but the arroent home, for I saw his jaw drop) ”Further, I believe you to be an illicit diaing with the Basutos to h of these last two items at present I lack positive proof Now, Dr Rodd, I ask you for the second time whether you are a person to accuse others of crimes and whether, should you do so, you will be considered a credible witness when your own are brought to light?”
”If I had been guilty of any of these things, which I am not, it is obvious that my partner must have shared in all of theainst ainst him, and the father of Heda, who, be proved a gun-runner, a thief and a would-be uests I should advise you to leave that business alone, Mr Quatermain”
The reply was bold and clever, so uard with a certain amount of admiration, as I answered-
”I shall take your advice if you takelady and her father, but not otherwise”
”Then spare your breath and do your worst; only careful, sharp as you think yourself, that yourdoes not recoil on your own head Listen, Heda, either you e that this young gentleman, who as a doctor I assure you is now quite fit to travel without injury to his health, leaves this house to-ht lend hio in-or I start with the proofs to lay a charge ofto have a faht,” I answered as he passed ain before to- As you ht,” and I looked at the revolver in my hand
When he had vanished I reht it was bedti lady If you feel lonely, you must tell that stout ht is so hot I shall take my nap on the stoep, there, just opposite yourNo, don't let us talk any more now There will be plenty of time for that to-morrow”
She rose, looked at Ansob, looked at me, looked at her father very pitifully; then with a little exclamation of despair passed into her room by the French here presently I heard her call the native maid and tell her that she was to sleep with her