Finished, H. Rider Haggard [e reader txt] 📗

It might be thought that after all this there would have been a painful explanation on the following morning, but nothing of the sort happened. After all the greatest art is the art of ignoring things, without which the world could scarcely go on, even among the savage races. Thus on this occasion the two chief actors in the scene of the previous night pretended that they had forgotten what took place, as I believe, to a large extent truly. The fierce flame of drink in the one and of passion in the other had burnt the web of remembrance to ashes. They knew that something unpleasant had occurred and its main outlines; the rest had vanished away; perhaps because they knew also that they were not responsible for what they said and did, and therefore that what occurred had no right to a permanent niche in their memories. It was, as it were, something outside of their normal selves. At least so I conjectured, and their conduct seemed to give colour to my guess.

The doctor spoke to me of the matter first.

“I fear there was a row last night,” he said; “it has happened here before over cards, and will no doubt happen again until matters clear themselves up somehow. Marnham, as you see, drinks, and when drunk is the biggest liar in the world, and I, I am sorry to say, am cursed with a violent temper. Don’t judge either of us too harshly. If you were a doctor you would know that all these things come to us with our blood, and we didn’t fashion our own clay, did we? Have some coffee, won’t you?”

Subsequently when Rodd wasn’t there, Marnham spoke also and with that fine air of courtesy which was peculiar to him.

“I owe a deep apology,” he said, “to yourself and Mr. Anscombe. I do not recall much about it, but I know there was a scene last night over those cursed cards. A weakness overtakes me sometimes. I will say no more, except that you, who are also a man who perhaps have felt weaknesses of one sort or another, will, I hope, make allowances for me and pay no attention to anything that I may have said or done in the presence of guests; yes, that is what pains me—in the presence of guests.”

Something in his distinguished manner caused me to reflect upon every peccadillo that I had ever committed, setting it in its very worst light.

“Quite so,” I answered, “quite so. Pray do not mention the matter any more, although—” These words seemed to jerk themselves out of my throat, “you did call each other by such very hard names.”

“I daresay,” he answered with a vacant smile, “but if so they meant nothing.”

“No, I understand, just like a lovers’ quarrel. But look here, you left some diamonds on the table which I took to keep the Kaffirs out of temptation. I will fetch them.”

“Did I? Well, probably I left some I.O.U.‘s also which might serve for pipelights. So suppose we set the one against the other. I don’t know the value of either the diamonds or the pipelights, it may be less or more, but for God’s sake don’t let me see the beastly things again. There’s no need, I have plenty.”

“I must speak to Anscombe,” I answered. “The money at stake was his, not mine.”

“Speak to whom you will,” he replied, and I noted that the throbbing vein upon his forehead indicated a rising temper. “But never let me see those diamonds again. Throw them into the gutter if you wish, but never let me see them again, or there will be trouble.”

Then he flung out of the room, leaving his breakfast almost untasted.

Reflecting that this queer old bird probably did not wish to be cross-questioned as to his possession of so many uncut diamonds, or that they were worth much less than the sum he had lost, or possibly that they were not diamonds at all but glass, I went to report the matter to Anscombe. He only laughed and said that as I had got the things I had better keep them until something happened, for we had both got it into our heads that something would happen before we had done with that establishment.

So I went to put the stones away as safely as I could. While I was doing so I heard the rumble of wheels, and came out just in time to see a Cape cart, drawn by four very good horses and driven by a Hottentot in a smart hat and a red waistband, pull up at the garden gate. Out of this cart presently emerged a neatly dressed lady, of whom all I could see was that she was young, slender and rather tall; also, as her back was towards me, that she had a great deal of auburn hair.

“There!” said Anscombe. “I knew that something would happen. Heda has happened. Quatermain, as neither her venerated parent nor her loving fiance, for such I gather he is, seems to be about, you had better go and give her a hand.”

I obeyed with a groan, heartily wishing that Heda hadn’t happened, since some sense warned me that she would only add to the present complications. At the gate, having given some instructions to a very stout young coloured woman who, I took it, was her maid, about a basket of flower roots in the cart, she turned round suddenly and we came face to face with the gate between us. For a moment we stared at each other, I reflecting that she really was very pretty with her delicately-shaped features, her fresh, healthy-looking complexion, her long dark eyelashes and her lithe and charming figure. What she reflected about me I don’t know, probably nothing half so complimentary. Suddenly, however, her large greyish eyes grew troubled and a look of alarm appeared upon her face.

“Is anything wrong with my father?” she asked. “I don’t see him.”

“If you mean Mr. Marnham,” I replied, lifting my hat, “I believe that Dr. Rodd and he—”

“Never mind about Dr. Rodd,” she broke in with a contemptuous little jerk of her chin, “how is my father?”

“I imagine much as usual. He and Dr. Rodd were here a little while ago, I suppose that they have gone out” (as a matter of fact they had, but in different directions).

“Then that’s all right,” she said with a sigh of relief. “You see, I heard that he was very ill, which is why I have come back.”

So, thought I to myself, she loves that old scamp and she—doesn’t love the doctor. There will be more trouble as sure as five and two are seven. All we wanted was a woman to make the pot boil over.

Then I opened the gate and took a travelling bag from her hand with my politest bow.

“My name is Quatermain and that of my friend Anscombe. We are staying here, you know,” I said rather awkwardly.

“Indeed,” she answered with a delightful smile, “what a very strange place to choose to stay in.”

“It is a beautiful house,” I remarked.

“Not bad, although I designed it, more or less. But I was alluding to its inhabitants.”

This finished me, and I am sure she felt that I could think of nothing nice to say about those inhabitants, for I heard her sigh. We walked side by side up the rose-fringed path and presently arrived at the stoep, where Anscombe, whose hair I had cut very nicely on the previous day, was watching us from his long chair. They looked at each other, and I saw both of them colour a little, out of mere foolishness, I suppose.

“Anscombe,” I said, “this is—” and I paused, not being quite certain whether she also was called Marnham. “Heda Marnham,” she interrupted.

“Yes—Miss Heda Marnham, and this is the Honourable Maurice Anscombe.”

“Forgive me for not rising, Miss Marnham,” said Anscombe in his pleasant voice (by the way hers was pleasant too, full and rather low, with just a suggestion of something foreign about it). “A shot through the foot prevents me at present.”

“Who shot you?” she asked quickly.

“Oh! only a Kaffir.”

“I am so sorry, I hope you will get well soon. Forgive me now, I must go to look for my father.”

“She is uncommonly pretty,” remarked Anscombe, “and a lady into the bargain. In reflecting on old Marnham’s sins we must put it to his credit that he has produced a charming daughter.”

“Too pretty and charming by half,” I grunted.

“Perhaps Dr. Rodd is of the same way of thinking. Great shame that such a girl should be handed over to a medical scoundrel like Dr. Rodd. I wonder if she cares for him?”

“Just about as much as a canary cares for a tom-cat.