Page:Hornung - Rogues March.djvu/336

316 Wonder was the word, for wonder he did, but keenly inquisitive he was not; and the stride was shorter than it had looked.

“I believed in your innocence,” replied Daintree with deliberation. “That was all.”

“I can’t think why! You were the only one. Yet you knew nothing about me, it seems?” And still his tone was that of purely impersonal speculation.

Daintree took the cheroot from between his teeth.

“I knew something about Blaydes,” said he.

“Ah!”

“Not much; very little, in fact; but that little was pretty bad. I knew what an infernal blackguard he was, and I felt sure there must be more ruined men than one upon his track. You remember that point in the defence?”

Tom jumped up. “Don’t remind me of it,” he cried. “The very barrister disbelieved in me! And it doesn’t interest me now, it only hurts; don’t speak of it, if you please.”

“Oh, very well,” said Daintree; “only that point was suggested by me.”

“You?” exclaimed Tom in an altered voice. “Ah, but what don’t I owe to you? More than I can ever realise or believe; everything—everything—and yet I refuse to speak of it to you of all men! You see how ungrateful I am; you see what they’ve made of me among them! Oh, sir, forgive me; have patience with me, and I may be grateful yet. Give me time, and I shall thank you as I cannot now!”

“You shall not,” rejoined Daintree firmly; “you were quite right, and we’ll speak of all this no more. Good heavens!” he cried out, “how do you know my motives