Читать «Cup of Gold (Золотая чаша)» онлайн - страница 118

Emil has treasured this gift to the end, and of this talisman he has reaped a harvest-for talismanic it is, in truth, sir. But Emil thinks its period of duty should end, sir. He believes that by taking this means he can stop the series of events which has flowed out from his treasure. And Emil, unfortunately, will have no further use for it. Emil kisses the hand of Lady Morgan-presents his respects and dignified compliments." He dropped a rose pearl on the table and turned quickly away.

After they had been led out, Sir Henry sat at his bench and stared at the pearl. Then he put it in his pocket and walked into the street.

He came to the squat, white Palace of the Lieutenant-Governor. It was exactly as Sir Edward had left it.

Lady Morgan would not have felt right if a detail had been changed. She met Henry at the door.

"We are to have dinner with the Vaughns. And what am I to do about the coachman? He's drunk. I've told you and told you to lock your closet, but you will not pay attention to me. He sneaked into the house and got a bottle off your shelf. He must have done that."

"Open your hand, my dear. I have a gift for you."

He dropped the rose pearl into her palm.

For a moment she looked at the rosy sphere and her face flushed with pleasure, but then she searched his face suspiciously.

"What have you been up to?"

"Up to? Why, I have been holding court."

"I suppose you got this in court!" Her face lighted up. "I know! You suspected my displeasure at your actions last night. You were practically intoxicated, if you must know the truth; and all the people were staring at you and whispering.

Don't say a word. I saw them and I saw you. And now you want to bribe my feeling-my decency."

"Suspected your displeasure! My dear, I suspected it all the way home with you, and nearly all night after I got here. You are right. I strongly suspected your displeasure. In fact, I was certain of it. But I will tell you the truth about the pearl."

"You will tell the truth only because you know you cannot deceive me, Henry. When will you give up the idea that I don't know every little thought you possess?"

"But I didn't try to deceive you. You didn't give me time."

"It takes no more time to tell the truth than-"

"Listen to me, Elizabeth, please. I tried two pirates this morning and they gave it to me."

She smiled a superior smile. "They gave it to you? Why? Did you release them? It would be like you to release them. Sometimes I think you would still be one of them if it weren't for me. You never seem to realize, Henry, that it is really I who have made you what you are-a knight and a gentleman. You made yourself a buccaneer. But tell me, did you release these pirates?"

"No; I sentenced them to death."

"Ah! Then why did they give you the pearl?"

"My dear, they gave it to me because they had nothing else to do with it. They might have presented it to the hangman, but one would feel a trifle diffident about giving pearls to the man who put a rope about one's neck. Friendship isn't possible with one's hangman, I should imagine. Thus, they gave it to me, and I-" he smiled broadly and innocently, "I am giving it to you because I love you."