The Dust of Conflict

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Bindloss Harold. The Dust of Conflict

I – VIOLET WAYNE’S CONFIDENCE

II – DAVIDSON MEETS HIS MATCH

III – TONY CANNOT DECIDE

IV – THE VERDICT

V – APPLEBY MAKES A FRIEND

VI – THE SCHOONER “VENTURA”

VII – THE DESCENT OF SANTA MARTA

VIII – APPLEBY’S PRISONER

IX – THE BREAKING OF THE NET

X – AN UNEXPECTED MEETING

XI – THE ALCALDE’S BALL

XII – PANCHO’S WARNING

XIII – THE SECOND ATTEMPT

XIV – APPLEBY PROVES OBDURATE

XV – TONY’S LAST OPPORTUNITY

XVI – DANE COP

XVII – TONY IS PAINFULLY ASTONISHED

XVIII – NETTIE ASKS A QUESTION

XIX – POSITIVE PROOF

XX – FOUND GUILTY

XXI – TONY’S DECISION

XXII – MORALES MAKES A PROPOSAL

XXIII – APPLEBY TAKES A RISK

XXIV – RESPITED

XXV – MORALES SITS STILL

XXVI – THE SEIZING OF SAN CRISTOVAL

XXVII – HARDING’S APPROBATION

XXVIII – TONY MAKES AMENDS

XXIX – TONY PERSISTS

XXX – MORALES PRESERVES HIS FAME

XXXI – STRUCK OFF THE ROLL

XXXII – APPLEBY LEAVES SANTA MARTA

XXXIII – VIOLET REGAINS HER LIBERTY

XXXIV – THE RIGHT MAN

Отрывок из книги

IT was with confused feelings that Appleby, treading softly as he crossed the gravelled terrace, slipped into the gloom of a shrubbery. There was a trace of frost in the air, and the stars shone brightly, but here and there a thin white mist hung in filmy wisps. He was, however, conscious of an elation which had a curious bracing effect. Violet Wayne had trusted him with her confidence, and it was the first time a woman of her station had cast more than a passing glance on him. Her reposeful serenity, with its faint suggestion of imperiousness, had impressed him more than her beauty, and he was sensible of an unbounded respect and admiration for Tony’s fiancée. Tony had also, in his indolent fashion, and perhaps because the favors he dispensed cost him nothing, been a good friend to him, which was, however, not astonishing, since Appleby had fought most of his battles for him and stood between him and the results of his easy-going carelessness at school. Tony Palliser was one of the men who need the guidance of a stronger hand, and usually obtain it.

Appleby had, however, affairs of his own to think of that night, and as he swung across a misty meadow the half-formed resolution which had been long in his mind took definite shape, and he decided he would not go back to the drudgery his soul detested. His father had risen by valor from the ranks, and the instincts he had stubbornly held in check at last asserted themselves dominantly. He remembered the sordid poverty, the struggle to maintain appearances, and the strain of forced attention to an uncongenial task, and asked himself half contemptuously why he had borne them so long. He had spent his early years in Spain, where he had been taught out of charity by an army chaplain, and had reckless brown-faced muleteers and smugglers and grave artillery officers, the gatekeepers of the Mediterranean, for his friends, while the fortnight spent at Northrop had brought back old associations overwhelmingly.

.....

“It shall be looked into, but we will make a start now as you have sent the beaters on,” said Palliser, who turned to his guests. “I am sorry we have kept you waiting, gentlemen.”

They started, and, as it happened, Tony and Appleby sat at the back of the dog-cart which followed the larger vehicle, while the rattle of gravel beneath the wheels rendered their conversation inaudible to those who sat in front.

.....