Part 39 (1/1)
Hogan paused, and Crispin sat very still and white, his soul in torment
”And Ashburn?” he asked presently, in a voice that was singularly hoarse and low ”What became of him? Was he not arrested?”
”No,” said Hogan grimly, ”he was not arrested He was buried Before he had wiped his blade I had stepped up to hi a beardless boy I re he owed you, I reht to send you to your death; I saw the boy's body still warround, and I struck him with my knuckles on the mouth Like the cowardly ruffian he was, he ot mine out I avoided it narrowly, and we set to work
”People rushed in and would have stopped us, but I cursed the to kill any man that came between us, that they held off and waited I didn't keep thester fresh froh Joseph Ashburn's throat within a
”It was then as I stood in that shambles and looked down upon my handiwork that I recalled in what favour Master Ashburn was held by the Parliaht be
To avoid theht line for Greenwich, hoping to find the Lady Jane still there But er had already sent her to Harwich for you I ell ahead of possible pursuit, and so I pushed on to Dover, and thence I crossed, arriving here three days ago”
Crispin rose and stepped up to Hogan ”The last ti a man, Harry, I was of some service to you You shall find me no less useful now You will come to Paris with me?”
”But the lady?” gasped Hogan, aht for her
”I hear her step upon the stairs Leave o, desire the landlord to send for a priest The lady remains”
One look of utter bewilderlib, Irish tongue could shape no other words than:
”Soul of my body!”
He wrung Crispin's hand, and in a state of ineffable perplexity he hurried from the room to do as required of him
For aout into the night he thanked God from his heart for his solution of the monstrous riddle that had been set him
Then the rustle of a gown drew his attention, and he swung round to find Cynthia s upon him from the threshold
He advanced tohis hands upon her shoulders, he held her at ar down into her eyes
”Cynthia,past the barrier of his grasp, nestled up to hih of sweet and unalloyed content