Yet
one moment. Ere we part let us complete our interrupted ceremony.
Marmaduke Diggle, sir--plain Marmaduke Diggle, at your service."
He swept off his hat with a smile. But as soon as Desmond had passed on,
the smile faded. Marmaduke Diggle's mouth became hard, and he looked
after the retreating form with a gaze in which curiosity, suspicion, and
dislike were blended.
He was still seated by the roadside when Desmond returned some minutes
later.
"A pleasant surprise, Mr. Burke," he said. "Your business is most
briefly, and let us hope happily despatched."
"Briefly, at any rate. I only went up to the Hall to see if the squire
was returned; it is near rent day, and he is not usually so late in
returning."
"Ah, your squires!" said Diggle, with a sigh. "A fine thing to have
lands--olive yards and vineyards, as the Scripture saith. You are
returning? The squire is not at home? Permit me to accompany you some
steps on your road.
"Yes, it is a fine thing to be a landlord. It is a state of life much to
be envied by poor landless men like me. I confess I am poor--none the
pleasanter because 'tis my own fault. You behold in me, Mr. Burke, one of
the luckless. I sought fame and fortune years ago in the fabulous East
Indies--"
"The Indies, sir?"
"You are interested? In me also, when I was your age, the name stirred my
blood and haunted my imagination. Yes, 'tis nigh ten years since I first
sailed from these shores for the marvelous east.
Pages:
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43