Part 12 (1/2)
”Captain Marcus,” she repeated, dwelling a little on the unfamiliar name, ”I beg that you will forgive me for disturbing you at so unseasonable an hour.”
”Certainly I forgive you, Lady Miriam,” he replied, also dwelling on her name and copying her accent in a fas.h.i.+on that made the grim-faced Nehushta smile.
She waved her hand in deprecation. ”The truth is, that this matter of Caleb's----”
”Oh, may all the infernal G.o.ds take Caleb! as I have reason to believe they shortly will,” broke in Marcus angrily.
”But that is just what I wish to prevent; we have met here to talk of Caleb.”
”Well, if you must--talk and let us be done with him. What about Caleb?”
Miriam clasped her hands. ”What do you know of him, Captain Marcus?”
”Know? Why, just this: a spy I have in my troop has found out a country fellow who was hunting for mushrooms or something--I forget what--in a gully a mile away, and saw this interesting youth hide himself there and shoot that Jewish plunderer with a bow and arrow. More--he has found another man who saw the said Caleb an hour or two before help himself to an arrow out of one of the Jew's quivers, which arrow appears to be identical with, or at any rate, similar to, that which was found in the fellow's gullet. Therefore, it seems that Caleb is guilty, and that it will be my duty to-morrow to place him under arrest, and in due course to convey him to Jerusalem, where the priests will attend to his little business. Now, Lady Miriam, is your curiosity satisfied about Caleb?”
”Oh,” she said, ”it cannot be, it must not be! The man had struck him and he did but return a blow for a blow.”
”An arrow for a blow, you mean; the point of a spear for the push of its handle. But, Lady Miriam, you seem to be very deep in the confidence of Caleb. How do you come to know all this?”
”I don't know, I only guess. I daresay, nay, I am sure, that Caleb is quite innocent.”
”Why do you take such an interest in Caleb?” asked Marcus suspiciously.
”Because he was my friend and playmate from childhood.”
”Umph,” he answered, ”a strange couple--a dove and a raven. Well, I am glad that you did not catch his temper, or you would be more dangerous even than you are. Now, what do you want me to do?”
”I want you to spare Caleb. You, you, you--need not believe those witnesses.”
”To think of it!” said Marcus, in mock horror. ”To think that one whom I thought so good can prove so immoral. Do you then wish to tempt me from my duty?”
”Yes, I suppose so. At least the peasants round here are great liars.”
”Lady,” said Marcus, with stern conviction, ”Caleb has improved upon his opportunities as a playmate; he has been making love to you. I thought so from the first.”
”Oh,” she answered, ”how can you know that? Besides, he promised that he would never do it again.”
”How can I know that? Why, because Caleb would have been a bigger fool than I take him for if he had not. And if it rested with me, certainly he never would do it again. Now be honest with me, if a woman can on such a matter, and tell me true: are you in love with this Caleb?”
”I--I? In love with Caleb? Of course not. If you do not believe me, ask Nehushta.”
”Thank you, I will be content with your own reply. You deny that you are in love with him, and I incline to believe you; but, on the other hand, I remember that you would naturally say this, since you might think that any other answer would prejudice the cause of Caleb with me.”
”With you! What can it matter to you, sir, whether or no I am in love with Caleb, who, to tell you the truth, frightens me?”
”And that, I suppose, is why you plead so hard for him?”
”No,” she answered with a sudden sternness, ”I plead hard for him as in like case I would plead hard for you--because he has been my friend, and if he did this deed he was provoked to it.”
”Well spoken,” said Marcus, gazing at her steadily. Indeed, she was worth looking at as she stood there before him, her hands clasped, her breast heaving, her sweet, pale face flushed with emotion and her lovely eyes aswim with tears. Of a sudden as he gazed Marcus lost control of himself. Pa.s.sion for this maiden and bitter jealousy of Caleb arose like twin giants in his heart and possessed him.
”You say you are not in love with Caleb,” he said. ”Well, kiss me and I will believe you.”