I shall
leave Dorade to-morrow; but it will not be to follow Cecil Tresilyan.
More than this: if there is any chance of our meeting hereafter, on my
honor, I will avoid it. I wish many things could be unsaid and undone;
but nothing has occurred that is past remedy. As far as any future
intentions of mine are concerned, I swear she is as safe as if she were
my sister."
Waring drew a long breath, as if a ponderous weight had been lifted from
his chest. "I believe you," he said simply: then he rose to go. He had
almost reached the door, when he turned suddenly and stretched out his
hand. It was a perfectly unaccountable and perhaps involuntary impulse;
for he still could not absolve the other from dark and heavy guilt. The
major held it for a few seconds in a gripe that would have paralyzed
weaker fingers: even Mark's tough joints and muscles were long in
forgetting it. He muttered these words between his teeth as he let it
go--"_You_ were worthy of her." So the interview ended--in peace.
Nevertheless, there was little peace that night for Royston Keene; he
passed it alone--how, no mortal can know; but the next morning his
appearance fully bore out the truth of the ancient aphorism, "There is
no rest for the wicked.
Pages:
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318