Запретный лес
XII. The Man with the Squint
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"Hehasdonenoevil...?"
"NonesavewhatIhavedonemyself.Hehasdrawntheswordinabravecausewhichthisdayhassorelymiscarried.But,sir,itisnotofpoliticsIspeak,butofcharity.ForthesakeofChrist’smercy,Ibeseechyounottorefuse."
"Itisaheavycharge,mylord,butIcannotsayyounay."
MontroseshiftedtheburdenofthewoundedmantoDavid’sarm."Farewell,Mark,"hewhispered."Thegoodcauseisdownbutnotdead,oldfriend.Youknowwheretogetnewsofme."ThenhekissedhischeekandgavehishandtoDavid.
"MayGodblessandrewardyou,sir.Idarenotlinger.Wewilltakethethirdhorsewithus,foritwouldbetookenspeckleinyourstable.Thinkkindlyofme,whatevermyfate,asIthinktenderlyofyou,andprayforalonelymanwhosefeetaresetonalongroad."
Thenextmomenttheridershaddisappearedinthefog.Davidstoodinadream,forhewouldhavegivenworldstorecallthespeaker.Hisvoice,thesightofhisface,hadbroughtbacktenfoldthelongingtobewithhimwhichhadhauntedhimaftertheCalidonmeeting.Themanhadbeenaconquerorandwasnowafugitive,butearthlyfortuneshadnomeaningforsuchanone.Thosecalmeyeswouldlookontriumphanddisasteralikeunperturbed.
Hewasrousedbythewoundedmangoinglimpinhisarms,andhesawthathehadfainted.Hecarriedhimupthesteepstairs--Isobel’ssnoringstillmakingachorusinthebackground--andlaidhimonthebedsteadintheguest-room.Thebedwasnotmadeup,anditwasclearthathemustwakeIsobel.Astheman’sheaddroopedonthebolsterDavidturnedhiscandleonit.
