The sight of O'Moy's hunched attitude brought
him instantly to his feet.
"Whatever is the matter, sir?"
"It's that damned fool Richard," growled O'Moy. "He's broken out
again."
The captain looked relieved. "And is that all?"
O'Moy looked at him, white-faced, and in his blue eyes a blaze of
that swift passion that had made his name a byword in the army.
"All?" he roared. "You'll say it's enough, by God, when you hear
what the fool's been at this time. Violation of a nunnery, no less."
And he brought his massive fist down with a crash upon the document
that had conveyed the information. "With a detachment of dragoons
he broke into the convent of the Dominican nuns at Tavora one night
a week ago. The alarm bell was sounded, and the village turned out
to avenge the outrage. Consequences: three troopers killed, five
peasants sabred to death and seven other casualties, Dick himself
missing and reported to have escaped from the convent, but understood
to remain in hiding - so that he adds desertion to the other crime,
as if that in itself were not enough to hang him. That's all, as
you say, and I hope you consider it enough even for Dick Butler -
bad luck to him."
"My God!" said Captain Tremayne.
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