The Amateur Gentleman

"Beverley," he said, "oh, Beverley, s-she won't let me touch her."

And so stood a while with his face hidden in his griping hands.

After a moment he looked down at her again, but seeing how she yet

gazed at him with that wide, awful, fixed stare, he strove as if to

speak; then, finding no words, turned suddenly upon his heel and

crossing the room, went into his bed-chamber and locked the door.

Then Barnabas knelt beside that shaken, desolate figure and fain

would have comforted her, but now he could hear her speaking in a

passionate whisper, and the words she uttered were these: "Oh, God forgive him! Oh, God help him! Have mercy upon him, oh God

of Pity!"

And these words she whispered over and over again until, at length,

Barnabas reached out and touched her very gently.

"Cleone!" he said.

At the touch she rose and stood looking round the dingy room like

one distraught, and, sighing, crossed unsteadily to the door.

And when they reached the stair, Barnabas would have taken her hand

because of the dark, but she shrank away from him and shook her head.

"Sir," said she very softly, "a murderer's sister needs no help, I

thank you."

And so they went down the dark stair with never a word between them

and, reaching the door with the faulty latch, Barnabas held it open

and they passed out into the dingy street, and as they walked side

by side towards Hatton Garden, Barnabas saw that her eyes were still

fixed and wide and that her lips still moved in silent prayer.

In a while, being come into Hatton Garden, Barnabas saw a hackney

coach before them, and beside the coach a burly, blue-clad figure, a

conspicuous figure by reason of his wooden leg and shiny, glazed hat.

"W'y, Lord, Mr. Beverley, sir!" exclaimed the Bo'sun, hurrying

forward, with his hairy fist outstretched, "this is a surprise, sir,

likewise a pleasure, and--" But here, observing my lady's face, he

checked himself suddenly, and opening the carriage door aided her in

very tenderly, beckoning Barnabas to follow. But Barnabas shook his

head.

"Take care of her, Bo'sun," said he, clasping the sailor's hand,

"take great care of her." So saying, he closed the door upon them,

and stood to watch the rumbling coach down the bustling street until

it had rumbled itself quite out of sight.