Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 143: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

CLOVELLY. “Your grace,” he said, “ we must talk further upon this matter.” “‘ Let madame retire to the next room,” said Ipswich, biting his lip. He went to the door and opened it upon an adjoining chamber. “No, no!” cried Cecily. ‘If I leave you, what may happen to me, God alone knows. Why should you talk to him?” ‘There is no other way,” said Michael, shaking his head. Then he went to her and took her hand. And, as he stood close to her, she felt his whole body trembling with excitement. “Can you trust me, Cecily?” he said. She lifted her head at that, and looked him steadily, quietly, in the face. There is a strength and a courage needed to meet the weight of a man’s eye, but strength and courage were in her. And this sad, unshrinking patience gave her beauty such @ poignant grace that Clovelly’s heart ached. He could only say: “ Wait in the next room beyond this door. You will not be long alone.” “Ts it good-by, Michael?” she asked him quietly, and before he could answer she was gone through the door. He closed the door upon her and turned to Ipswich, who was regarding him steadily beneath a scowl of anger. “Mr. Clovelly,” he said grimly, “I fear that the country has had an ill effect upon you. Or is it considered good manners even in the country to whisper before one’s host?” Clovelly flushed, but there was such a wealth of happiness crowding into his heart at that moment that he could not be angry. “Your grace,” he explained, “ we must come to a new agreement.” ce Ah!” “T agreed to bring the lady to you.” Exactly. “And I have done so.” “In a manner—yes.” “And now, my lord, I shall take her away from you!” “By the dear Heavens, Clovelly, you are mad to say so.” “Vour grace,” said Clovelly, “ will hold me to my contract?” 299 “Strictly, Clovelly. I have seen her, man! I reached for gold, and I have found diamonds. Let her go again? I am not quite witless, my friend.” “My lord,” Clovelly remarked, “ I have in my time been a sufficient rascal. I have been a pirate, a swashbuckler, an outlawed highwayman, and do you think that I shall now hesitate to steal away the woman I love? “T have fulfilled my contract, I tell you. I have brought her to your house. As for the ship which is your price, let it sail or sink for all of me. I want none of it. “Only Cecily I desire, and her I shall have, by force, if need be. But surely your grace will not attempt to keep a woman who has shown that she has no liking for you!” “For the moment, perhaps not,’ the duke admitted. ‘ Her head, I see, has been turned by her galloping, ranting, fighting cavalier who has dragged her from her father’s house and half across the kingdom. But that will pass. I know ways to soften stubborn hearts, Clovelly. ‘No, no— for the matter of her present reluctance—it is a mere nothing. It is not to be considered. And as for taking her away with you again — tush, man, she has been bought and sold. I do not care to put a new price on her. As for taking her away by force—I tell you Clov- elly, that I have a dozen men here, any two of whom could stop you.” These statements Clovelly seemed to con- sider for a time, leaning against the wall and looking down at the floor. But pres- ently he stepped without a word to the door, turned the key in the lock, and dropped it in his pocket. ‘ “You are quite right, sir,” he said. “There is only one way in which I can safely take her away, and that is through your command.” “How will you buy that from me? Tell me, Clovelly? I warn you that I have taken a deeper fancy to her than to any trifle that has met my eyes these many years. For she has more than beauty, Clovelly. She has brains! The clever minx can play the part of virtue as well as any good woman I ever saw, and—”’ z3 ina s i / My lord, you are speaking of my wifet”.