"
"My younger brother you are; and too young to understand all you see,
for one thing, or to hold me responsible to you for my actions, for
another."
"I understand when your honour calls for my actions, however! Your
very anger betrays you. I will kill Falconer!"
"You'll do nothing of the kind!"
"You shall see! I know a brother's duties--his rights, by heaven!"
"A brother has no duties nor rights, concerning a sister who is
married."
"Then, if not as your brother, I have as your husband's friend. For,
by God, I _am_ Phil's friend, to the death; and while he's not here to
see what's passing, I dare act on his behalf. If I may not have a care
of my sister's honour, I may of Philip Winwood's! And now I'll go to
your captain!"
"But wait--stay, Tom--a moment, for God's sake! You're mistaken, I
tell you. There's naught against Philip Winwood's honour in my meeting
Captain Falconer. We have conferences, I grant. But 'tis upon a matter
you know nothing of--a matter of the war."
"What nonsense! To think I should believe that! What affair of the war
could you have to do with? It makes me laugh!"
"I vow there's an affair I have to do with. What do you know of my
secrets, my planning and plotting? 'Tis an affair for the royal cause,
I'll tell you that much. Nay, I'll tell you all; you won't dare betray
it--you'd be a traitor to the king if you did. You shall be let into
it, you and Bert.
Pages:
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184