The Swindler and Other Stories

it?" said Cynthia Mortimer ge

for a bit, anyhow," he urged

h her arms, as though she tri

ry nice of you to think of it, Lord Babbacombe. But-you see, I'

eight, and regarded her w

bstinate girl, C

ng up at him with clear, grey eyes

said. "I gave up all my pretensio

still faint

ut nineteen,

nto her voice; it sounded as if she were speaking o

's eyebrow

past thirty?

at him-a qui

t years since I

awfully happy together all this time. Well"-with a sharp sigh-"we can't get it back a

ick impulses that were a part of her charm, sh

shness too well ever to part with it. Ever, did I say? No, even I am not quite so foolish as that. But it's subli

uddenly full of tears; but she kept them upturned t

ng her hands closely in his own. There was no hint of c

hness of yours-about the thing you call-love. I might help you,

were qu

soul," she said.

dear!" he

ce-this of mine, so absurd that you'll laugh at it, j

er entertained the smallest regard for

turning from him to

ove the smell. Perhaps I'll try and tell you. But-mind, Jack-you're not to look a

face turned from him to the fire. Lord Babbacombe sat d

e high, American voice he had come to love. There was n

d have gone with you if you'd have had me unmarried. But I knew you wouldn't, so I just had to mess around by myself. Oh, but I was tired-I was tired! But I kept saying to myself it was the last journey before-Jack, if you don't smoke your cigarette will go out. Where was I? I'm afraid I'm boring you. You can go to sleep if you like. Well, it was on the voyage back. There was a man on board that every one said was a private detective. It was at the time of the great Nat Verne

ng forward, gazed into the heart o

hind her smoked on sile

e for that? I didn't flirt with him. I didn't try. He wasn't the sort one could flirt with. He was hard-hard as iron, clean-shaven, with an immensely powerful jaw, and eyes that looked clean th

ran through the words-that la

after a bit I told him so. Archie-my cousin, you know; he was only a boy then-was mad on card-playing at that time. And I was real worried about him. I knew he would get into a

eyes. The vision in the fire w

. The firelight flickered on his face, showing it

ynthia made a wavering movement

Don't be silly! I'm sur

hed it past her

get into a hole, a bad one, and the only way my friend could lift him out was by getting down into it himself. He saved him, but it was at his own expense; for it made people be

bowed upon her hands. She was roc

. If-if he hadn't done that thing for me, no on

ard her wondered, with a deep compassion, how often she ha

And then, very gently, he reached out, touched her,

work, dear, and it doesn't help. There! Let me hold you till you

somewhat spent itself. Then, with a little quivering smil

ot good for you, is it? I've made you quite damp. You don't think

r hand and

t I would so gladly do as help you, Cynthia. Will you

the fire, but she l

e in a nutshell. He didn't care a fig for me till just the last. He cared then, but it was too late to come to anything. They shipped him back ag

Cyn

suddenly upon her hand,

it can possibly be true-if I, Cynthia Mortimer, can really be such a fool. But I can't possibly tell for

ombe g

n you've seen him

ook he

k? I don't know

self together

know whe

that I take an interest in him. He calls it philanthropy." Cynthia smiled faintly i

r. She unlocked a drawer, and took something from it. Re

ime I saw him. It's only a hundred pounds. Yes, that was the message he wrote. Can you read

ned over the wr

she said. "Why don't you call him a thievi

can help you," he answered q

t he has a friend who will help him when he comes out. He will be horribly poor, you know, an

ondered with

le for you to see this man once more, will you be guided entirely by me? Will you promise me solemnly to take

The firelight showed her

id instantly. "I would trust myself body and

to keep his head above water. If he has any manhood in him, he won't mind what he takes. And I might-later, if I thought it practicable-I only say 'if,' Cynthia, for after many years of prison

hate to do it!

," he said. "I shall not hate it if

d," she said tremulo

woman," he an

nd left her alone in the