Harding nodded gravely. "I have heard how you have tried to make it up,"
he said. "Well, I guess I've seen and handled a good many men, and
there's more hope of those who trip up and get on their feet again than
for quite a few of the others who have never fallen at all. Now, I'm
glad you've told me, though, so far as my belief in Mr. Appleby goes, it
was not by any means necessary."
Tony made a little movement with his head. "I've made over Dane Cop to
you, Bernard," he said. "It is yours by right, and you can take it
without feeling that you owe anything to me. Godfrey Palliser meant it
for you--until I deceived him."
Appleby said nothing, but his set face showed what he was bearing for
his comrade, and Harding quietly touched his shoulder.
"It seems to me that Mr. Palliser is right," he said. "The land is
yours, anyway, and you would only hurt him by not taking it."
Tony raised his head, and looked at him gratefully. "Thank you, sir," he
said. "It would hurt me, Bernard."
Appleby smiled a little, though it apparently cost him an effort.
"Well," he said, "I'm not burdened with money yet, and I think you can
afford it."
A light crept into Tony's eyes. "That is one thing accomplished. When
will you come back?"
"I don't quite know. I may find an opportunity in a year or two."
"You must come now."
"I can't."
"You must," said Tony, almost hoarsely. "Bernard, can't you see that to
bring you over, and to prove that I have made amends is the last chance
for me?"
"The last chance. You must be more explicit, Tony."
They were both apparently oblivious of the fact that Harding was
watching them, and Tony's voice trembled a little with eagerness.
"It's the only way I can make my peace with Violet," he said. "Can't you
understand what she is to me? She would promise nothing until I had made
all straight with you--and I can't let her go."
Appleby's face was compassionate, but he shook his head. "It is out of
the question, Tony. I can't--even for you," he said. "I have got to stay
here, and see this trouble through."
"Mr. Appleby is right," said Harding. "He has work to do."
Tony seemed to groan, and sat still a pace. Then he looked up with a
little flush in his face.
"Well," he said very quietly, "in that case I'll stay with you."
Appleby laughed. "The thing is palpably absurd. A Palliser of Northrop
consorting with the Sin Verguenza!"
"Still," said Tony doggedly, "I'm not going back to leave you in peril
here. I couldn't face Violet, and tell her that tale. Nor am I as sure
as you seem to be that the thing is so absurd. It's only the moral
courage that has been left out of me."
"Try to realize what it is you wish to do," said Appleby almost sternly.
Tony smiled curiously. "It is quite plain to me already. I'm going to
stay here and see the affair through with you; then when the insurgents
will let you go you'll come with me, if it's only for a week or two, and
tell Violet that you have forgiven me. In the meanwhile Craythorne and
my agent will take better care of Northrop than ever I could do. There
is another point you don't seem to have remembered. I should almost
certainly be made a prisoner by the Spaniards if you sent me away."
"There is a good deal of sense in that," said Harding.
Appleby sat silent for almost a minute, and then seeing that Tony was
resolute made a little gesture of resignation.
"Well," he said slowly, "we will talk to Maccario. Mr. Harding, I may
ask you for a month's leave when we have taken Santa Marta."
"You shall have it," said Harding quietly.
Just then, as it happened, Maccario strolled into the veranda, and
Appleby, who stood up, laid his hand on Tony's shoulder.
"I have the honor of presenting you another comrade," he said.