With the great stake which fate had suddenly introduced into
their losing game, he wished earnestly to believe that the judge
would stay quietly in his office and complete the task he had set
himself; that with this off his hands the promise of excitement
at Belle Plain would compel his presence there, when he would
pass somewhat under the restraining influence which he was
determined to exert; in short, to Solomon, life embraced just the
one vital consideration, which was to maintain the judge in a
state of sobriety until after his meeting with Fentress.
The purple of twilight was stealing over the land when he and his
two companions reached Belle Plain. They learned that Tom Ware
had returned from Memphis, that the bayou had been dragged but
without results, and that as yet nothing had been heard from
Carrington or the dogs he had gone for.
Presently Cavendish and Yancy set off across the fields. They
were going on to the raft, to Polly and the six little
Cavendishes, whom they had not seen since early morning; but they
promised to be back at Belle Plain within an hour.
By very nature an alien, Mahaffy sought out a dark corner on the
wide porch that overlooked the river to await their return. The
house had been thrown open, and supper was being served to
whoever cared to stay and partake of it. The murmur of idle
purposeless talk drifted out to him; he was irritated and
offended by it. There was something garish in this
indiscriminate hospitality in the very home of tragedy.
Pages:
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415