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There was no sympathy in Capper's voice or face; only in the grasp of his hand. "And you think I could be of use to him?" "I don't think," said Capper. "I know." He released her hand as abruptly as he had taken it. His long fingers began to curve and crack mechanically. "I'll tell you something," he said. "Don't know why I should, but I will. I love Lucas Errol as if he were my son." "Ah!"
Yet the moonlight shone strangely down upon him, revealing in him something foreign, something incongruous, that she marvelled that she had never before noticed. The fierce, dusky face with its glittering eyes and savage mouth was oddly unfamiliar to her, though she knew it all by heart. In imagination she clothed him with the blanket and moccasins of Capper's uncouth speech; and she was afraid.
"I will do much for Master Shelton," returned the first; "but to come to the gallows for any man nay, brothers, not that!" The door of the inn opened, and another man entered hastily and approached the youth before the fire. "Master Shelton," he said, "Sir Daniel goeth forth with a pair of links and four archers." "Lawless," he said, "ye will take John Capper's watch. Greensheve, follow with me.
He heard nothing but Capper's comment on his carefully reasoned prediction that the day must come when India would govern herself. "Oh! you think so?" Stupid, unmeaning, absurd, but successful. Then, immediately Capper was talking to Miss Malcolm about tennis, and she was listening, smiling and intent. The Judge was a crack tennis player.
There was keen satisfaction in Capper's tone. "That clears the ground for action. And Lady Carfax? Is she here?" "No." There was a hint of reserve in the quiet reply. "Lady Carfax is in deep mourning for her husband." "That so?" said Capper again. He seemed to take but casual note of the information. He was pulling absently at his pointed yellow beard.
They sat together in the hall, with the door wide open, for the night was as warm as summer. Mrs. Errol had gone to her room immediately after dinner, but Anne remained at Capper's request. "I shan't see much more of you," he said. They talked but little however. Nap sat smoking in a corner and hardly opened his lips. Bertie came in late, looking worn and miserable.
Lucas lay back in his chair and suffered himself to relax with a sigh. Capper's eyes darted lizard-like over him, taking in every line of him, keenly alive to each detail. "If I were you I should shunt as soon as possible," he said. "Since it isn't your own show unfortunately, I should imagine you are not indispensable."
Capper's case I can readily imagine that he spent most of his time in the halls of hotels, and there you do see those wild fellows rushing about; they convert the hall of the hotel into a mere stock exchange, and look just as uncomfortable as our "stags" who run about Capel Court.
Two doctors and two nurses were there to do his bidding, to aid him in the working of his miracle; two doctors, two nurses, and Nap. Gradually as the minutes passed the truth dawned upon the great half-breed waiting outside. Against Capper's wish, probably in defiance of it, Nap was remaining for the operation itself.
A second volley stopped them, before young Capper's prostrate body could be reached. Few had joined the attack, but now they were fewer, and neither of the leaders stood among them. That was the end. Bearing their dead and wounded, the rebels returned, wailing as they went. Before daylight the townsmen were in their houses, and the villagers had passed through the jungle, and regained their homes.
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