"
Again Fielding's voice came through Dick's silence. "Yes, come up to the
schoolhouse!" he said. "We can't talk here. Have you got the key, Dick?
Ah, that's right."
He found Dick and thrust a hand through his arm, leading him, stiffly
unresponsive, across the road.
At the gate Dick stopped and spoke. "Let him go in front!" he said.
"With pleasure," laughed Saltash. "I'm lucky to have met you here. I was
wondering how I should manage to break in."
He went up the path before them with his careless tread, and waited
whistling while Dick opened the door.
The lamp in the little hall was burning low, but it shone upon his ugly
face as he entered, and showed him the only one of the three who felt at
ease. With royal assurance he turned to Dick.
"Well? Have you got a table and pistols for two? Great Scott, man! You
look like a death-mask! Come along and let's get it over! Then perhaps
you'll feel better."
Dick stood upright by Fielding's side, listening to the taunting words
with a face that was indeed like a death-mask--save for the eyes that
glowed vividly, terribly, with something of a tigerish glare.
He spoke at last with deadly quietness through lips that did not seem to
move.
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