"The side you are on, Madam," said he.
"How can you know which side I am on?" said I. "Come round to the
back-door, friend, and I will find you a drink of whey."
"I suppose," said my beggar, looking down at himself, "I don't look
quite good enough for the front door. But I am an officer for all that,
Madam."
"Sir, I beg your pardon," I made answer. "I will let you in at the
front,"--for when he spoke more, I heard the accent of a gentleman.
"Pray don't give yourself that trouble, Cousin Cary."
And to my utter amazement, the beggar jumped in at the window, which was
low and easily scaled.
"Angus!" I almost screamed.
"At your service, Madam."
"When did you leave France? Where are you come from? Have you been to
Abbotscliff? Are--"
"Halt! Can't fight more than three men at once. And I won't answer a
question till I have had something to eat. Forgive me, Cary, but I am
very nearly starving."
I rushed into the kitchen, and astonished Caitlin by laying violent
hands on a pan of broth which she was going to serve for supper. I
don't know what I said to her. I hastily poured the broth into a basin,
and seizing a loaf of bread and a knife, dashed back to Angus.
"Eat that now, Angus. You shall have something better by-and-by."
He ate like a man who was nearly starving, as he had said. When he had
finished, he said,--
"Now! I left France a fortnight since. I have not been to Abbotscliff.
I know nothing but the facts that you are married, and where you live,
which I learned by accident, and I instantly thought that your house, if
you would take me in, would be a safer refuge than either Brocklebank or
Abbotscliff. Now tell me some thing in turn. Are my father and Flora
well?"
"Yes, for anything I know."
"And all at Brocklebank?"
"Quite."
"And the Keiths? Has Annas bagged her pheasant?"
"What do you mean, Angus?"
"Why, is she Mrs Raymond? I saw all that. I suppose Duncan got away
without any difficulty?"
"Annas is Mr Raymond's wife," I said. "But, Angus, I cannot think how
it is, but--I am afraid you do not understand."
"Understand what?"
"Is it possible you do not know what price was paid for your ransom?"
Angus rose hastily, and laid his hand on my arm.
"Speak out, Cary! What do I not know?"
"Angus, Colonel Keith bought your life with his own."
In all my life I never saw a man's face change as the face of Angus
Drummond changed then. It was plainly to be read there that he had
never for a moment understood at what cost he had been purchased. A low
moan of intense sorrow broke from him, and he hid his face upon the
table.
"I think he paid the price very willingly, Angus," I said, softly. "And
he sent Annas a last message for you--he bade you, to the utmost of what
your opportunities might be, to be to God and man what he hoped to have
been."
"O Duncan, Duncan!" came in anguish from the white lips. "And I never
knew--I never thought--"