Part 38 (1/2)
”It is the truth Stay, I would not have you think too ill of me It was not done wantonly Those who ood chance of success ht you too would reap the benefit, it is none the less true that I deceived you I ca that has happened, the delivery of the golden cross instead of the bracelet I have played my hand and lost Mine should be a bitter punishment; you yourself have said it Grant ands yonder, and not from you”
Ellerey hardly seemed to hear the boy's latter words The sudden confession was all his brain seemed to have the power to take in
Stefan reosie
For a space there was silence in the tower Then Ellerey turned sharply upon the boy and laid his hand roughly on his shoulder, so roughly that he winced a little, but showed no sign of fear
”You lie, Grigosie, confess that you lie The box containing the token has never left ht or day As I received it from her Majesty so it has always been, so I delivered it Of course you are lying”
”You slept soundly, Captain, the night you drank from my wine flask”
”Was it then, you scoundrel?”
”It was then”
Deep down in every e, the acceptance of the lahich demands an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth
Given occasion great enough, it may rise even in the man who has all his life studied to curb his passions, and in his judgh and readier sort He was a disappointed ainst those who had injured hi soldiers who hadadventurers If the youth of this deceiver and betrayer appealed to hiht of what they had coether cae that he had committed the unpardonable sin He had betrayed his coe,” Ellerey cried; ”but what is there except death for the traitor?” and his sword rang from its scabbard as he spoke
He paused a moment and looked toward Stefan
”It's hateful, but it's just,” muttered the soldier in his beard, and he did not ht not see
”I adrant ands? So you shall escape”
”Escape!” cried Ellerey ”For what? Is there any truth and honor in the world? I have not found them, and the end may come when it will
It is an easier death you shall have from my hands than you would have from theirs”
The sas ready, and Stefan turned in the doorway just in time to see Anton and to catch his uplifted arm as he attempted to rush past him toward Ellerey Not a word spoke the soldier, but he fiercely twisted Anton's aim, and the knife he held rattled to the floor
”As osie cried
”Strike, Captain! God knows it was not such work as this I thought to find for the strong arm of Desmond Ellerey”
As he spoke, he tore his shi+rt open at the throat to receive the blow
His cap fell from his head, and curls, the hue of copper, slipped loosely down upon his forehead, while the open shi+rt just revealed the curve of a white bosoo of Anton in his blank astonishment
Slowly Ellerey's sas lowered, and for a moment he did not speak
Then almost in a whisper he said:
”Maritza! Princess Maritza”