If it hadn't been for
that I should have come to you a month ago - immediately after this
trouble of mine. As it is, I kept away until despair left me no
other choice. Una, on no account a word of my presence to Terence."
"But . . . he's my husband!"
"Sure, and he's also adjutant-general, and if I know him at all he's
the very man to place official duty and honour and all the rest of
it above family considerations."
"Oh, Richard, how little you know Terence! How wrong you are to
misjudge him like this!"
"Right or wrong, I'd prefer not to take the risk. It might end in my
being shot one fine morning before long."
" Richard!"
"For God's sake, less of your Richard! It's all the world will be
hearing you. Can you hide me, do you think, for a day or two? If
you can't, I'll be after shifting for myself as best I can. I've
been playing the part of an English overseer from Bearsley's wine
farm, and it has brought me all the way from the Douro in safety.
But the strain of it and the eternal fear of discovery are beginning
to break me. And now there's this infernal wound. I was assaulted
by a footpad near Abrantes, as if I was worth robbing. Anyhow I
gave the fellow more than I took.
Pages:
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116