"My duty is quite clear and simple; I think. You needn't wait,
Captain Tremayne."
And so, without another word, Tremayne turned and departed. The
soldiers, in compliance with the short command issued by Sir Terence,
took up the body and bore it away to a room in the official quarters;
and in their wake went Colonel Grant, after taking his leave of Sir
Terence. Her ladyship vanished from the balcony and closed her
windows, and finally Sir Terence, followed by Mullins, slowly,
with bowed head and dragging steps, reentered the house. In the
quadrangle, flooded now by the cold, white light of the moon, all
was peace once more. Sir Terence turned into his study, sank into
the chair by his desk and sat there awhile staring into vacancy, a
diabolical smile upon his handsome, mobile mouth. Gradually the
smile faded and horror overspread his face. Finally he flung
himself forward and buried his head in his arms.
There were steps in the hall outside, a quick mutter of voices,
and then the door of his study was flung open, and Miss Armytage
came sharply to rouse him.
"Terence! What has happened to Captain Tremayne?"
He sat up stiffly, as she sped across the room to him. She was
wrapped in a blue quilted bed-gown, her dark hair hung in two heavy
plaits, and her bare feet had been hastily thrust into slippers.
Pages:
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233