Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 149: what you’re looking at

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

CLOVELLY. “You are rare, Clovelly.” ‘“ And yet, Marberry, I confess that there is another reason for my coming to you— keep your hand from that bell-cord, my friend! Good! While I stand here chat- ting, you are thinking what an excellent figure I would make upon the scaffold be- side Jack Ketch. Are you not?” “In the name of heaven, do you think me such a brute as this?”’ But he could not constrain his blush. “Enough, Marberry. We know each other.” ‘““'Then—be damned to you for a knave. What will you have?” “The truth about a very small matter— a matter as small as a woman, in fact; ard her name is Madame Clovelly.” CHAPTER XXXV. DARKNESS FLEES, ARBERRY waved his hand as one who will take up a conversation only by compulsion, so to speak. “Women, at best, are poor things for talk, Clovelly,” said he. Clovelly sat down lightly on the broad arm of a chair and swung one foot in the air as he continued: ‘‘ You are a known man, Marberry. Not aman or a woman in London but knows what a clever devil you are with the ladies. They cannot resist you, man.” The other smiled in spite of himself. “No talk of that,” he remarked care- lessly. “But it must be talked of when all London is willing to listen and to believe. But, Marberry, I was with Milverton, as I think you know, on a certain night when we saw you leave a certain garden, which shall be nameless.” ‘“‘T remember,” growled Marberry. “ And the next morning Milverton would walk with me. I peppered him properly and then in come you with your damned sword magic and run me through! “By the eternal heavens, Clovelly, it is neither right nor fair for such fellows as yourself to take the field against simple, honest gentlemen. What chance have we 10 A 305 against your No more chance than a man off the streets has to match the tricks of a master juggler.” He shuddered as he remembered. ‘Tf I had known about you then what I know now,” he said, “‘ Vd have seen you damned before I’d have engaged you. Vd have set a gang of bullies to maul you in ~ the streets by night to keep off the meet- ing!” He shivered again. ‘‘ Pour me another glass of that sherry, Clovelly. I’m cold through and through when I even think of it. You might have killed me on the spot —with no more effort upon your part. Gad, there was a life—a special malice in that sword of yours. I swear to heaven that it worked against me of its own account and of its own accord.” ‘You say much too much, sir, But con- cerning the lady—for, you see, I did not kill you.” | “What about the lady? What about the lady?” asked Marberry sharply. “ What the devil have you to learn from me about the lady? You’re married to her, aren’t you?” “‘ After a fashion of speaking, I am.” “After a fashion? After a fashion? What mean you by that?” “You are testy, Mr. Marberry, but the question I wish .to ask may be very short- ly put.” “Put it then, put it then, and be damned. I’m tired of this talk, Clovelly.” “In one word, then, was Milverton right?” ‘“‘ About. what? No, damn him, he’s never right.” 6 Ah! 9 “One would think that I had given you a present of a great estate to judge by your face. What is it you want to know of me?” “You have already answered me when you said that Milverton was wrong in thinking that Cecily Medhurst had been your mistress.” “Did I say that, then? Well!” “Is it not true, man?” “You are very pale Clovelly.” “Ts it true, Marberry?’” ‘“°Fore God, one would think that you loved the girl.” = LT Comichbooks.com