We will
watch that no harm comes nigh you, but otherwise you shall not be
disturbed."
She broke into delighted laughter. Of all women the most steadfast
of soul, her outward moods were as variable as a child's. "Agreed!"
she cried. "You and the minister and Diccon Demon shall lay your
muskets across your knees, and Angela shall witch you into stone
with her old, mad, heathen charms. And then - and then - I will
gather more gold than had King Midas; I will dance with the
hamadryads; I will find out Oberon and make Titania jealous!"
"I do not doubt that you could do so," I said, as she sprang to her
feet, childishly eager and radiantly beautiful.
I rose to go in with her, for it was supper time, but in a moment
changed my mind, and resumed my seat on the bank of turf. "Do
you go in," I said. "There's a snake near by, in those bushes below
the bank. I'll kill the creature, and then I'll come to supper."
When she was gone, I walked to where, ten feet away, the bank
dipped to a clump of reeds and willows planted in the mud on the
brink of the river. Dropping on my knees I leaned over, and,
grasping a man by the collar, lifted him from the slime where he
belonged to the bank beside me.
It was my Lord Carnal's Italian doctor that I had so fished up. I had
seen him before, and had found in his very small, mean figure clad
all in black, and his narrow face with malignant eyes, and thin
white lips drawn tightly over gleaming teeth, something infinitely
repulsive, sickening to the sight as are certain reptiles to the touch.
Pages:
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139