This
woman had ever the power to drive him beyond bounds. He hated her now
with an intensity born of derided love. The Governor would have stormed
at him, but Mrs. Haxton accepted the challenge too promptly.
"I admit nothing," she cried with a sudden shrillness. "If admissions
are necessary I shall wait until Abdullah confronts you. Then, when I
have told my story, he shall tell his."
"Who cares for Abdullah!" came the retort. "Not I. It is well, indeed,
to appeal to the testimony of an unknown Arab."
"You shall have the opportunity of refuting him," said. Mrs. Haxton.
"He is in Massowah. But that is a question for such tribunal as may
exist in this lawless town. Your Excellency's decision is final?" she
added, turning to the Governor.
"Absolutely irrevocable, signora. You see how it stands--my orders are
explicit."
"Their explicitness is as nothing compared to the clearness of the next
mandate you will receive from Rome," she blazed out. "Was it according
to your orders that an English lady was carried off by brigands, simply
to glut the vengeance of my discarded Beppo? You spoke of confederates,
Signor Marchetti.
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