He
is in our house and well cared for. I don't think his wound is
bad. And--" here she hesitated at last and let her gaze fall,--"so
here I am." Then she lifted her eyes again and made an inimitable
French gesture with her shoulders and arms. "You will do as you
please, Monsieur, I am at your mercy."
Hamilton was astounded. Helm sat staring phlegmatically. Meantime
Beverley entered the room and stopped hat in hand behind Alice. He
was flushed and evidently excited; in fact, he had heard of the
trouble with Farnsworth, and seeing Alice enter the floor of
Hamilton's quarters he followed her in, his heart stirred by no
slight emotion. He met the Governor's glare and parried it with
one of equal haughtiness. The veins on his forehead swelled and
turned dark. He was in a mood to do whatever desperate act should
suggest itself.
When Hamilton fairly comprehended the message so graphically
presented by Alice, he rose from his seat by the fire.
"What's this you tell me?" he blurted. "You say you've shot
Captain Farnsworth?"
"Oui, Monsieur"
He stared a moment, then his features beamed with hate.
"And I'll have you shot for it, Miss, as sure as you stand there
in your silly impudence ogling me so brazenly!"
He leaned toward her as he spoke and sent with the words a shock
of coarse, passionate energy from which she recoiled as if
expecting a blow to follow it.
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