And I would further submit, under the head of all
parties at Rodhaven, that there may be a bit of malice behind their
report."
"What malice could there possibly be? They appear to have shown an
inclination to pass over the whole matter."
"Only if I took a black mark, sir. That's where the shoe pinched with
me, sir--and perhaps with them too. They mayn't have been best pleased
when I asked to have _your_ decision over theirs."
Then the Colonel spoke instead of Sir John.
"But apart from Rodhaven, we have evidence against you from the
village. Your neighbors, Mr. Dale, complain more forcibly than anybody
else."
"Is that so?" Dale felt as if he had received a wickedly violent blow
in the dark. "Of course," and he moved his hands spasmodically--"Of
course I've long expected I'd enemies." Then he snorted. "But I
suppose, sir, you're alluding now to a certain Member of Parliament
whose name I needn't mention."
"Yes, I allude to him, and to others--to several others."
"If some have spoken against me, there's a many more would have spoken
for me."
"But they have not done so," said the Colonel dryly.
For a moment Dale's mental distress was so acute that his ideas seemed
to blend in one vast confused whirl.
Pages:
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75