The next morning Roscoe was quiet and calm, but he looked ten years
older than when I had first seen him. After breakfast he said to me: “I
have to go to the valley to pay Phil Boldrick’s friend the money, and to
see Mr. Devlin. I shall be back, perhaps, by lunchtime. Will you go with
me, or stay here?”
“I shall try to get some fishing this morning, I fancy,” I said.
“And possibly I shall idle a good deal, for my time with you here is
shortening, and I want to have a great store of laziness behind me for
memory, when I’ve got my nose to the grindstone.”
He turned to the door, and said: “Marmion, I wish you weren’t going. I
wish that we might be comrades under the same roof till--” He paused and
smiled strangely.
“Till the finish,” I added, “when we should amble grey-headed, sans
everything, out of the mad old world? I imagine Miss Belle Treherne
would scarcely fancy that.... Still, we can be friends just the same.
Our wives won’t object to an occasional bout of loafing together, will
they?”
I was determined not to take him too seriously. He said nothing, and in
a moment he was gone.
I passed the morning idly enough, yet thinking, too, very much about
my friend. I was anxiously hoping that the telegram from Winnipeg would
come. About noon it came. It was not known quite in what part of the
North-west, Madras (under his new name) was, for the corps of mounted
police had been changed about recently. My letter had, however, been
forwarded into the wilds.
I saw no immediate way but to go to Mrs. Falchion and make a bold bid
for his peace. I had promised Madras never to let her know that he was
alive, but I would break the promise if Madras himself did not come.
After considerable hesitation I started. It must be remembered that the
events of the preceding chapter were only known to me afterwards.
Justine Caron was passing through the hall of the hotel when I arrived.
After greetings, she said that Mrs. Falchion might see me, but that they
were very busy; they were leaving in the evening for the coast. Here
was a pleasant revelation! I was so confused with delight at the
information, that I could think of nothing more sensible to say than
that the unexpected always happens. By this time we were within Mrs.
Falchion’s sitting-room. And to my remark, Justine replied “Yes, it is
so. One has to reckon most with the accidents of life. The expected is
either pleasant or unpleasant; there is no middle place.”
“You are growing philosophic,” said I playfully. “Monsieur,” she said
gravely, “I hope as I live and travel, I grow a little wiser.” Still she
lingered, her hand upon the door.
“I had thought that you were always wise.”
“Oh no, no! How can you say so? I have been very foolish sometimes.”...
She came back towards me. “If I am wiser I am also happier,” she added.
In that moment we understood each other; that is, I read how unselfish
this girl could be, and she knew thoroughly the source of my anxiety,
and was glad that she could remove it.
“I would not speak to any one save you,” she said, “but do you not also
think that it is good we go?”
“I have been thinking so, but I hesitated to say so,” was my reply.
“You need not hesitate,” she said earnestly. “We have both understood,
and I know that you are to be trusted.”
“Not always,” I said, remembering that one experience of mine with
Mrs. Falchion on the ‘Fulvia’. Holding the back of a chair, and looking
earnestly at me, she continued: “Once, on the vessel, you remember, in
a hint so very little, I made it appear that madame was selfish.... I
am sorry. Her heart was asleep. Now, it is awake. She is unselfish. The
accident of our going away is hers. She goes to leave peace behind.” “I
am most glad,” said I. “And you think there will be peace?”
“Surely, since this has come, that will come also.”
“And you--Mademoiselle?” I should not have asked that question had I
known more of the world. It was tactless and unkind.
“For me it is no matter at all. I do not come in anywhere. As I said, I
am happy.”
And turning quickly, yet not so quickly but that I saw her cheeks were
flushed, she passed out of the room. In a moment Mrs. Falchion entered.
There was something new in her carriage, in her person. She came towards
me, held out her hand, and said, with the same old half-quizzical tone:
“Have you, with your unerring instinct, guessed that I was leaving, and
so come to say good-bye?”
“You credit me too highly. No, I came to see you because I had an
inclination. I did not guess that you were going until Miss Caron told
me.”
“An inclination to see me is not your usual instinct, is it? Was it some
special impulse, based on a scientific calculation--at which, I suppose,
you are an adeptor curiosity? Or had it a purpose? Or were you bored,
and therefore sought the most startling experience you could conceive?”
She deftly rearranged some flowers in a jar.
“I can plead innocence of all directly; I am guilty of all indirectly:
I was impelled to come. I reasoned--if that is scientific--on what I
should say if I did come, knowing how inclined I was to--”
“To get beyond my depth,” she interrupted, and she motioned me to a
chair.
“Well, let it be so,” said I. “I was curious to know what kept you in
this sylvan, and I fear, to you, half-barbaric spot. I was bored with
myself; and I had some purpose in coming, or I should not have had the
impulse.”
She was leaning back in her chair easily, not languidly. She seemed
reposeful, yet alert.
“How wonderfully you talk!” she said, with good-natured mockery. “You
are scientifically frank. You were bored with yourself.--Then there
is some hope for your future wife.... We have had many talks in our
acquaintance, Dr. Marmion, but none so interesting as this promises to
be. But now tell me what your purpose was in coming. ‘Purpose’ seems
portentous, but quite in keeping.”
I noticed here the familiar, almost imperceptible click of the small
white teeth.
Was I so glad she was going that I was playful, elated? “My purpose,”
said I, “has no point now; for even if I were to propose to amuse
you--I believe that was the old formula--by an idle day somewhere, by an
excursion, an--”
“An autobiography,” she broke in soothingly.
“Or an autobiography,” I repeated stolidly, “you would not, I fancy, be
prepared to accept my services. There would be no chance--now that you
are going away--for me to play the harlequin--”
“Whose office you could do pleasantly if it suited you--these adaptable
natures!”
“Quite so. But it is all futile now, as I say.”
“Yes, you mentioned that before.--Well?”
“It is well,” I replied, dropping into a more meaning tone.
“You say it patriarchally, but yet flatteringly.” Here she casually
offered me a flower. I mechanically placed it in my buttonhole. She
seemed delighted at confusing me. But I kept on firmly.
“I do not think,” I rejoined gravely now, “that there need be any
flattery between us.”
“Why?--We are not married.”
“That is as radically true as it is epigrammatic,” blurted I.
“And truth is more than epigram?”
“One should delight in truth; I do delight in epigram; there seems
little chance for choice here.”
It seemed to me that I had said quite what I wished there, but she only
looked at me enigmatically.
She arranged a flower in her dress as she almost idly replied, though
she did not look me full in the face as she had done before: “Well,
then, let me add to your present delight by saying that you may go play
till doomsday, Dr. Marmion. Your work is done.”
“I do not understand.”
Her eyes were on me now with the directness she could so well use at
need.
“I did not suppose you would, despite your many lessons at my hands. You
have been altruistic, Dr. Marmion; I fear critical people would say that
you meddled. I shall only say that you are inquiring--scientific,
or feminine--what you please!... You can now yield up your portfolio
of--foreign affairs--of war--shall I say? and retire into sedative
habitations, which, believe me, you become best.... What concerns
me need concern you no longer. The enemy retreats. She offers
truce--without conditions. She retires.... Is that enough for even you,
Professor Marmion?”
“Mrs. Falchion,” I said, finding it impossible to understand why she
had so suddenly determined to go away (for I did not know all the truth
until afterwards--some of it long afterwards), “it is more than I dared
to hope for, though less, I know, than you have heart to do if you
willed so. I know that you hold some power over my friend.”
“Do not think,” she said, “that you have had the least influence. What
you might think, or may have intended to do, has not moved me in the
least. I have had wrongs that you do not know. I have changed--that is
all. I admit I intended to do Galt Roscoe harm.
“I thought he deserved it. That is over. After to-night, it is not
probable that we shall meet again. I hope that we shall not; as,
doubtless, is your own mind.”
She kept looking at me with that new deep look which I had seen when she
first entered the room.
I was moved, and I saw that just at the last she had spoken under
considerable strain. “Mrs. Falchion,” said I, “I have THOUGHT harder
things of you than I ever SAID to any one. Pray believe that, and
believe, also, that I never tried to injure you. For the rest, I can
make no complaint. You do not like me. I liked you once, and do now,
when you do not depreciate yourself of purpose.... Pardon me, but I say
this very humbly too.... I suppose I always shall like you, in spite of
myself. You are one of the most gifted and fascinating women that I ever
met. I have been anxious for my friend. I was concerned to make peace
between you and your husband--”
“The man who WAS my husband,” she interrupted musingly.
“Your husband--whom you so cruelly treated. But I confess I have found
it impossible to withhold admiration of you.”
For a long time she did not reply, but she never took her eyes off my
face, as she leaned slightly forward. Then at last she spoke more gently
than I had ever heard her, and a glow came upon her face.
“I am only human. You have me at advantage. What woman could reply
unkindly to a speech like that? I admit I thought you held me utterly
bad and heartless, and it made me bitter.... I had no heart--once. I had
only a wrong, an injury, which was in my mind; not mine, but another’s,
and yet mine. Then strange things occurred.... At last I relented. I
saw that I had better go. Yesterday I saw that; and I am going--that is
all.... I wished to keep the edge of my intercourse with you sharp
and uncompanionable to the end; but you have forced me at my weakest
point....” Here she smiled somewhat painfully.... “Believe me, that is
the way to turn a woman’s weapon upon herself. You have learned much
since we first met.... Here is my hand in friendliness, if you care to
take it; and in good-bye, should we not meet again more formally before
I go.”
“I wish now that your husband, Boyd Madras, were here,” I said.
She answered nothing, but she did not resent it, only shuddered a
little.
Our hands grasped silently. I was too choked to speak, and I left her.
At that moment she blinded me to all her faults. She was a wonderful
woman.
.....................
Galt Roscoe had walked slowly along the forest-road towards the valley,
his mind in that state of calm which, in some, might be thought numbness
of sensation, in others fortitude--the prerogative of despair. He came
to the point of land jutting out over the valley, where he had stood
with Mrs. Falchion, Justine, and myself, on the morning of Phil
Boldrick’s death.
He looked for a long time, and then, slowly descending the hillside,
made his way to Mr. Devlin’s office. He found Phil’s pal awaiting him
there. After a few preliminaries, the money was paid over, and Kilby
said:
“I’ve been to see his camping-ground. It’s right enough. Viking has done
it noble.... Now, here’s what I’m goin’ to do: I’m goin’ to open bottles
for all that’ll drink success to Viking. A place that’s stood by my
pal, I stand by--but not with his money, mind you! No, that goes to you,
Padre, for hospital purposes. My gift an’ his.... So, sit down and write
a receipt, or whatever it’s called, accordin’ to Hoyle, and you’ll do me
proud.”
Roscoe did as he requested, and handed the money over to Mr. Devlin for
safe keeping, remarking, at the same time, that the matter should be
announced on a bulletin outside the office at once.
As Kilby stood chewing the end of a cigar and listening to the brief
conversation between Roscoe and Mr. Devlin, perplexity crossed his face.
He said, as Roscoe turned round: “There’s something catchy about your
voice, Padre. I don’t know what; but it’s familiar like. You never was
on the Panama level, of course?”
“Never.”
“Nor in Australia?”
“Yes, in 1876.”
“I wasn’t there then.”
Roscoe grew a shade paler, but he was firm and composed. He was
determined to answer truthfully any question that was asked him,
wherever it might lead.
“Nor in Samoa?”
There was the slightest pause, and then the reply came:
“Yes, in Samoa.”
“Not a missionary, by gracious! Not a mickonaree in Samoa?”
“No.” He said nothing further. He did not feel bound to incriminate
himself.
“No? Well, you wasn’t a beachcomber, nor trader, I’ll swear. Was you
there in the last half of the Seventies? That’s when I was there.”
“Yes.” The reply was quiet.
“By Jingo!” The man’s face was puzzled. He was about to speak again; but
at that moment two river-drivers--boon companions, who had been hanging
about the door--urged him to come to the tavern. This distracted him. He
laughed, and said that he was coming, and then again, though with less
persistency, questioned Roscoe.. “You don’t remember me, I suppose?”
“No, I never saw you, so far as I know, until yesterday.”
“No? Still, I’ve heard your voice. It keeps swingin’ in my ears; and I
can’t remember.... I can’t remember!... But we’ll have a spin about it
again, Padre.” He turned to the impatient men. “All right, bully-boys,
I’m comin’.”
At the door he turned and looked again at Roscoe with a sharp,
half-amused scrutiny, then the two parted. Kilby kept his word. He was
liberal to Viking; and Phil’s memory was drunk, not in silence, many
times that day. So that when, in the afternoon, he made up his mind
to keep his engagement with Mrs. Falchion, and left the valley for the
hills, he was not entirely sober. But he was apparently good-natured. As
he idled along he talked to himself, and finally broke out into singing:
“‘Then swing the long boat down the drink,
For the lads as pipe to go;
But I sink when the ‘Lovely Jane’ does sink,
To the mermaids down below.’
“‘The long boat bides on its strings,’ says we,
‘An’ we bides where the long boat bides;
An’ we’ll bluff this equatorial sea,
Or swallow its hurricane tides.’
“But the ‘Lovely Jane’ she didn’t go down,
An’ she anchored at the Spicy Isles;
An’ she sailed again to Wellington Town--
A matter of a thousand miles.”
It will be remembered that this was part of the song sung by Galt Roscoe
on the Whi-Whi River, the day we rescued Mrs. Falchion and Justine
Caron. Kilby sang the whole song over to himself until he reached a
point overlooking the valley. Then he stood silent for a time, his
glance upon the town. The walk had sobered him a little. “Phil, old
pal,” he said at last, “you ain’t got the taste of raw whiskey with you
now. When a man loses a pal he loses a grip on the world equal to all
that pal’s grip was worth.... I’m drunk, and Phil’s down there among the
worms--among the worms!... Ah!” he added in disgust, and, dashing his
hand across his eyes, struck off into the woods again, making his way
to the summer hotel, where he had promised to meet Mrs. Falchion. He
inquired for her, creating some astonishment by his uncouth appearance
and unsteady manner.
He learned from Justine that Mrs. Falchion had gone to see Roscoe, and
that he would probably meet her if he went that way. This he did. He was
just about to issue into a partly open space by a ravine near the
house, when he heard voices, and his own name mentioned. He stilled and
listened.
“Yes, Galt Roscoe,” said a voice, “Sam Kilby is the man that loved
Alo--loved her not as you did. He would have given her a home, have made
her happy, perhaps. You, when Kilby was away, married her--in native
fashion--which is no marriage--and KILLED her.”
“No, no, I did not kill her--that is not so. As God is my Judge, that is
not so.”
“You did not kill her with the knife?... Well, I will be honest now, and
say that I believe that, whatever I may have hinted or said before. But
you killed her just the same when you left her.”
“Mercy Falchion,” he said desperately, “I will not try to palliate my
sin. But still I must set myself right with you in so far as I can. The
very night Alo killed herself I had made up my mind to leave the navy. I
was going to send in my papers, and come back to Apia, and marry her as
Englishmen are married. While I remained in the navy I could not, as
you know, marry her. It would be impossible to an English officer. I
intended to come back and be regularly married to her.”
“You say that now,” was the cold reply.
“But it is the truth, the truth indeed. Nothing that you might say could
make me despise myself more than I do; but I have told you all, as I
shall have to tell it one day before a just God. You have spared me: He
will not.”
“Gait Roscoe,” she replied, “I am not merciful, nor am I just. I
intended to injure you, though you will remember I saved your life that
night by giving you a boat for escape across the bay to the ‘Porcupine’,
which was then under way. The band on board, you also remember, was
playing the music of La Grande Duchesse. You fired on the natives who
followed. Well, Sam Kilby was with them. Your brother officers did
not know the cause of the trouble. It was not known to any one in Apia
exactly who it was that Kilby and the natives had tracked from Alo’s
hut.”
He drew his hand across his forehead dazedly.
“Oh, yes I remember!” he said. “I wish I had faced the matter there and
then. It would have been better.”
“I doubt that,” she replied. “The natives who saw you coming from
Alo’s hut did not know you. You wisely came straight to the Consul’s
office--my father’s house. And I helped you, though Alo, half-caste Alo,
was--my sister!”
Roscoe started back. “Alo--your--sister!” he exclaimed in horror.
“Yes, though I did not know it till afterwards, not till just before
my father died. Alo’s father was my father; and her mother had been
honestly married to my father by a missionary; though for my sake it
had never been made known. You remember, also, that you carried on your
relations with Alo secretly, and my father never suspected it was you.”
“Your sister!” Roscoe was white and sick.
“Yes. And now you understand my reason for wishing you ill, and for
hating you to the end.”
“Yes,” he said despairingly, “I see.”
She was determined to preserve before him the outer coldness of her
nature to the last.
“Let us reckon together,” she said. “I helped to--in fact, I saved your
life at Apia. You helped to save my life at the Devil’s Slide. That is
balanced. You did me--the honour to say that you loved me once. Well,
one of my race loved you. That is balanced also. My sister’s death
came through you. There is no balance to that. What shall balance Alo’s
death? ... I leave you to think that over. It is worth thinking about.
I shall keep your secret, too. Kilby does not know you. I doubt that he
ever saw you, though, as I said, he followed you with the natives that
night in Apia. He was to come to see me to-day. I think I intended to
tell him all, and shift--the duty--of punishment on his shoulders, which
I do not doubt he would fulfil. But he shall not know. Do not ask why. I
have changed my mind, that is all. But still the account remains a
long one. You will have your lifetime to reckon with it, free from any
interference on my part; for, if I can help it, we shall never meet
again in this world--never.... And now, good-bye.”
Without a gesture of farewell she turned and left him standing there, in
misery and bitterness, but in a thankfulness too, more for Ruth’s sake
than his own. He raised his arms with a despairing motion, then let them
drop heavily to his side....
And then two strong hands caught his throat, a body pressed hard against
him, and he was borne backward--backward--to the cliff!