The woods today have been full of danger.
Moreover, the plan that we made yesterday was overheard by the
Italian. When I had to go this morning without seeing you, I left
you word where I had gone and why, and also my commands that
you should not stir outside the garden. Were you not told this,
madam?"
" No!" she cried.
I looked at Diccon. "I told madam that you were called away on
business," he said sullenly. "I told her that you were sorry you
could not go with her to the woods."
"You told her nothing more?"
"No."
"May I ask why?"
He threw back his head. "I did not believe the Paspaheghs would
trouble her," he answered, with hardihood, "and you had n't seen
fit, sir, to tell me of the other danger. Madam wanted to go, and I
thought it a pity that she should lose her pleasure for nothing."
I had been hunting the day before, and my whip yet lay upon the
table. "I have known you for a hardy rogue," I said, with my hand
upon it; "now I know you for a faithless one as well. If I gave you
credit for all the vices of the soldier, I gave you credit also for his
virtues. I was the more deceived. The disobedient servant I might
pardon, but the soldier who is faithless to his trust" -
I raised the whip and brought it down again and again across his
shoulders. He stood without a word, his face dark red and his
hands clenched at his sides.
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