Читать «Cup of Gold (Золотая чаша)» онлайн - страница 109

How did he die? Making a short, fitting oration? Or with the damned thin lips of him pressed together as though he disapproved of death for social reasons? Ah, that man! His life was a fine, simple part, and he was very true to it." Henry spoke laughingly. "I hated my uncle. I think he frightened me. He was one of the few people I feared. But tell me how he died."

"It is whispered that he groaned once. I traced the rumor and found that some servant had been hiding behind a curtain. He doubtless told of it."

"Too bad! Too bad! What a cruel shame it is to ruin a perfect life with an exhalation. But now I am not afraid of him any more. If he groaned there was humanity in him, and weakness. I despise him, but I love him for it. As to my cousin, I shall take her off your hands, you may be sure. I dimly remember her as a tall little girl with yellow hair-a little girl who played abominably on the harp; at least it sounded abominable to me, though it may have been quite good."

Moddyford came to a subject he had been wanting to broach.

"I have heard that you met the Red Saint in Panama and released her for a ransom. How did that happen? She was said to be the pearl of the earth."

Henry reddened.

"Oh, well," he said, "it seemed to me that the legend flattered her. She was nice looking, surely; and I don't say some men would not have been struck with her. But she was not the kind of woman I admire for myself. She was rather free in her speech, you know-spoke of things unfeminine, in my opinion.

Besides, she rode horses astride, and fenced. In short, she was without that modesty we have come to look for in well-bred women."

"But as a mistress-Surely, as a mistress?"

"Well, you see, I received seventy-five thousand pieces of eight for her. To my mind that is worth more than any woman who was ever born."

"That much ransom? How did she happen to bring so much?"

"Why, on investigation, I found that she was an heiress. And as I say, she was nice looking, but still-the legend flattered her."

Meanwhile, in another room Lady Moddyford was earnestly talking to Elizabeth.

"I find I must speak to you as a mother, my dear, a mother who is looking to your future. There is absolutely no doubt that your cousin will look out for you; but would you be happy that way? — just hanging to his purse-strings, I mean? Look at him in another light. He is rich, well-favored. You understand, my dear, that it is impossible to be delicate about this, and I do not know that it would be desirable even if it were possible. Why don't you marry your cousin? If nothing else came of it, you would be the one woman on earth who could not criticize her husband's relatives."

"But what are you suggesting, Lady Moddyford?" Elizabeth put in meekly. "Isn't it some kind of crime to marry one's Cousin?"

"Not a bit of it, my dear. There is nothing in church or state to forbid it, and I, myself, would favor such a marriage.