Then, too, as the weeks passed, the shadow
overhanging him with regard to Richard Butler gradually lifted. No
further word had there been of the missing lieutenant, and by the
end of May both O'Moy and Tremayne had come to the conclusion that
he must have fallen into the hands of some of the ferocious
mountaineers to whom a soldier - whether his uniform were British or
French - was a thing to be done to death.
For his wife's sake O'Moy came thankfully to that conclusion. Under
the circumstances it was the best possible termination to the episode.
She must be told of her brother's death presently, when evidence of
it was forthcoming; she would mourn him passionately, no doubt, for
her attachment to him was deep - extraordinarily deep for so shallow
a woman - but at least she would be spared the pain and shame she
must inevitably have felt had he been taken and, shot.
Meanwhile, however, the lack of news from him, in another sense,
would have to be explained to Una sooner or later for a fitful
correspondence was maintained between brother and sister - and
O'Moy dreaded the moment when this explanation must be made.
Lacking invention, he applied to Tremayne for assistance, and
Tremayne glumly supplied him with the necessary lie that should
meet Lady O'Moy's inquiries when they came.
Pages:
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84