Part 20 (2/2)

I do not think he ever heard my answer He had turned unsteadily in his chair, and was facing the dying embers of the fire, his left hand liain the spasm of pain crossed his face

Mademoiselle still watched him, but without a trace of triuentle than I had ever known her

”Five hundred bales of shavings,” she softly ”Ah, captain, there are not many men ould do it Not any that I know, save you and the Marquis”

”Brutus,” said lass of rum”

With his eyes still on the fire, he drank the spirits, and sighed ”And now, Brutus,” he continued, ”my volume of Rabelais”

But when it was placed beside him, he left it unopened, and still continued to study the shi+fting scenes in the coals

XII

Was it possible that I cared? There she was leaning toward hiiving her dark hair a hundred new lights and shadows Her lips were parted, and in her eyes was silent entreaty I felt a sudden unaccountable impulse to snatch up the voluain, weapon or no weapon, to show her--

”Coently ”Must you continue this after it has turned into a farce? Must you continue acting fro has been over for more years than you care to remember? Must you keep on now because of a whim to make your life miserable and the lives of others? Will you threaten fifty men with death and ruin, because you once were called a thief? It is folly, sir, and you know it, utter useless folly! Pray do not stare at uessed it long ago I have listened too often to you and the Marquis at wine Coive me back the paper”

With his old half smile, one further through the world than h to less purpose, and I have met many people, but none of theh to refill his glass

”You are right, Mademoiselle Indeed, it is quite wonderful to ht My wife calledshe was mistaken--but my temper was hotter then than it is now I have done my best to convince her she was not in error And now, Made drink, a habit which even you cannot break I have been a villain too long to leave off lightly No, Mademoiselle, I have the paper, and I intend to dispose of it as I see fit Your ht in everything she said Brutus, tell Mr Aiken I am ready to see him”

Heroom almost as soon as my father had spoken, dressed in his rusty black sea cloak At the sight of Madeers

”Wind's shi+fted southwest,” he said ”But we're ready to put out”

”Sit down, Mr Aiken,” said my father ”My son, pour hi a chair by the fire, ”pour it out, my lad--fill her up It's a short life and little joy 'less we draw it fro life and much joy to you, sir, by the sa the spirits adroitly down his throat Then, with a cohted it on an e”

”You don't lance out of the , ”that I can't launch a small boat from the beach?”

”You could, captain, if you'd adown his tobacco, ”but there's lots who couldn't”

”Then I shall,” said uidly ”Brutus and I will board the _Sea Tern_ at eight o'clock tonight You will stand off outside and put on your running lights”

”Yes,” said Mr Aiken, ”it's ti steps?”

”A frigate's due in at