Читать книгу The Man and His Kingdom - E. Phillips Oppenheim - Страница 9

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They were scarcely across the Square before Rimarez turned upon his companion with an ugly frown.

"What was it he was saying to you—that clown of an Englishman?" he demanded.

She looked down at him, and smiled.

"Do you mean Mr. Dene?" she inquired.

"Whom else? What was he saying to you?"

"Couldn't you hear?" she asked. "You seemed to be listening very intently."

He twirled his black moustache fiercely.

"Listen to me, Ternissa—"

She interrupted him.

"You have not my permission," she said coldly, "to make use of my Christian name."

He swore under his breath.

"Miss Denison, then. I will call you what you choose, so long as you listen. I am weary of your irresolution. Santa Maria, I am weary to death of it. For what did you come here if you are not prepared?"

"My irresolution, as you term it," she answered, "shall be ended directly I have seen Arnold. Why don't you take me to him? You should be able to do that."

"You will be very fortunate," he said grimly, "if ever you see Arnold again."

She stopped short.

"What do you mean?" she demanded. "Has anything fresh happened?"

"Something fresh will happen before many hours have passed," he answered. "The people are getting restless about him. As usual, it will be his friends who will work his destruction. They will clamour for him, and he will be shot. Oh, I know my father well. I can read him. I have seen what he has in his mind."

"Then why don't you do something?" she exclaimed. "What are you his friend for? Why don't you set him free?"

"I am not President of San Martina," he answered sullenly.

"You can do it if you will."

"It is possible."

"And you hesitate. You, who have called yourself his friend his ally, his companion."

"It is dangerous. There are many risks."

She flashed a look of bitter scorn upon him.

"Oh. I know what you mean. You want to make your bargain beforehand."

"It is reasonable."

"I wonder," she said quietly, "that you dare to run the risk. I wonder if you would if you knew how much I loathed you."

He was white with passion, but he controlled himself.

"Up to now," he said, "you have managed to conceal that loathing. You have acted as though it were otherwise."

"In England," she said, "I tried to treat you as Arnold's friend. Besides, you were harmless then. Here you have shown yourself for what you are. You are bargaining with me for my brother's life. Who would not hate a creature who stooped to such a thing?"

"It is not such a bad bargain for you," he exclaimed, stifling his anger. "I am the son of the President. You would be the most important woman in San Martina."

She laughed outright. He was furious.

"How you dazzle me," she declared. "What a pinnacle."

He stopped short. They had climbed the hill which overlooked San Martina. Before them was the prison—below the sea.

"Very well," he said. "You ridicule me. I have had enough. I withdraw. Do as you choose without me. Get your Arnold out of there," he motioned fiercely towards the prison, "if you can. Before eight to-morrow he will be shot. I have but to pass the word, and it is done."

If a look could have killed him Rimarez would have been a dead man. She caught his arm and held him.

"You little fiend," she muttered. "If you were half a man you would have had him out from there before now. You needn't go away. Get me in there. You can do it, can't you? I want to see him."

"I will try," he said. "I cannot be sure. Come!"

They reached the prison, a gaunt and bare brick building. Outside the massive door, a sentry in shabby uniform was standing. He saluted, and allowed them to pass. Inside a score of soldiers were sitting on stools, some playing cards, all smoking cigarettes. At Rimarez' entrance there was some commotion. He glanced fiercely around.

"Lieutenant," he exclaimed, "this is strange discipline. There are prisoners here who need better guarding than this."

An officer came forward and entered into an animated conversation with Rimarez in Portuguese. Meanwhile, the soldiers one and all twirled their moustaches and stared at. Ternissa, whispering to each other and laughing. Not one of them offered her a stool, although they all remained seated. Her cheeks grew slowly scarlet with anger. She turned her back upon them, and waited for Rimarez.

He rejoined her in about a quarter of an hour. In answer to her look of interrogation, he shook his head, and drew her towards the door.

"I cannot even see him myself," he whispered. "Outside I will explain it to you."

They passed out again on to the brown hillside.

"Well?" she exclaimed.

"If you ever wish to see him again alive," he said solemnly, "you must accept my terms, and quickly. Yesterday an interview with him would have been easy. He was an ordinary prisoner. To-day I myself should have to get an order to see him. This morning he was transferred to the condemned cell."

She gave a little cry, and stopped short

"You mean that he is actually in danger, immediate danger?"

"I mean that he will probably be shot within the next twenty-four hours. This is something fresh since I was at headquarters. Evidently they fear a disturbance."

"And you," she cried. "What are you going to do? He was your friend, you were his confederate. If everything was known you would be sharing his cell."

"Hush! hush!" Rimarez cried, glancing nervously around. "We are within earshot of the prison. As to that, you are mistaken. He went too far. But even now I will help him if I can."

"What will you do?" she demanded.

He hesitated.

"I can go to the President, my father," he said, "and beg for his liberty. I can tell him that I fear a rising—that the people will never take the news of his death calmly."

"And if your father refuses to listen to you'?" she asked.

"The other means," he said, "are dangerous, and if I failed, why it would be ruin to me."

They turned a corner, and began the descent into the town. Below, a little glare of lights glittered around the Plaza. Inside, little crowds of people were standing about talking. To. Ternissa there was nothing unusual in their appearance. Rimarez, better used to San Martina and its ways, saw something significant in those gesticulating groups. A moment before he had been hastening forwards; now he slackened his pace.

"You have only a very few moments," he said, "in which to make up your mind."

"I have made it up," she answered quietly. "I will accept your terms."

He made a quick movement towards her, but she repulsed him with a little shudder.

"I must see Arnold free," she said, "and through you. Then—as you will."

He shrugged his shoulders.

"You are as cold," he said, "as your miserable country, where the sun never shines and one never sees a gay face. Never mind. As you will. Listen. There is no time to be lost. This path leads into the Presidency garden. I shall take it, and see my father at once. I must know what has been determined upon, and make my effort with him. Afterwards, I shall come to the hotel, and let you know. You will not mind going on alone?"

She shook her head. Rimarez raised his hat and disappeared to the right. Ternissa descended into the town, and crossed to the hotel, followed by many curious eyes.