“Gently, old lady,” he said. “Easy with the weaker vessel. I know it
looks bad, but—well, girls like you an’ Rosemary, you don’t realize
your power. Poor devils like Derry an’ me—we haven’t a ghost. An’ as if
your natural beauty wasn’t enough you actually fuss yourselves up to—to
make us think. It’s like goin’ out after sheep with a smoke-screen and a
couple of tanks.”
“It’s a wicked lie,” shrieked Virginia. “How dare you say such a thing?
You’re not like sheep. You’re wolves. And we don’t go after you. You
come and pester us till we’re nearly out of our minds, and when for the
sake of peace we try to be nice, you take what you want and then you
turn us down.”
Roger took out a handkerchief and wiped his face.
From the opposite corner of the limousine Virginia continued to dispense
indignation in the shape of spasmodic inspirations which shook the seat.
The man who can withstand that particular form of emotion has yet to be
sired.
After the tenth appeal, which was more of an _ultimatum_ and fairly
rattled round the car, Roger returned to the assault.
“Jenny, my dear, have a heart. For God’s sake don’t cry like this. I
swear I never meant any harm. You know I didn’t. And—and we’ll get back
on them somehow. I’ve got an idea already—it only wants working out.”
“I don’t want to get back,” said Virginia, dabbing her eyes. “I’m not
revengeful. To-morrow I shall go into retreat. I know a place in the
Midlands. You live very simply and do your own cell, and you don’t see
any papers or anything. And there aren’t any men for miles, except one
priest.”
“Poor devil,” said Roger thoughtfully. “Does he muck out his own cell
too?”
“Oh, of course you can laugh,” said Virginia hotly. “But I mean what I
say. I’m utterly disillusioned, and I’m going to clear out and leave the
lot of you to it. What’s your rotten idea?”
Roger took out a case and selected a cigarette.
“I’m afraid it’s too worldly,” he said. “Besides, as you don’t see the
papers——”
“Now, where’s that note you sent me?” said Virginia, ransacking her bag.
“The priest’ll want that to send to Derry.”
Captain Chase sat very still.