to him that hath-第31章

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caught　up　a　double　handful　of　the　snow　and；　packing　it　into　a
little　ball；　flung　it　at　her　partner；　catching　him　fairly　on　the
ear。

〃Aha！〃　she　cried。　　〃Don't　ever　say　a　woman　is　a　poor　shot。　　Now
then；〃　she　added；　stamping　her　feet　free　from　the　clinging　flakes
and　waving　her　hands　in　the　air　to　dry　them；　〃I　feel　fit　for
anything。　　Let　us　have　one　more　dance　before　we　go　home；　for　I　feel
we　really　must　go。〃

〃You　are　sure　you　are　quite　fit？〃　inquired　Hugh；　still　anxious　for
her。

〃Fit？　　Look　at　me！〃　　Her　cheeks　were　bright　with　colour；　her　eyes
with　light。

〃You　surely　do　look　fit；〃　said　Hugh；　beaming　at　her　with　frank
admiration。　　〃But　you　were　all　in　a　few　moments　ago。〃

〃Come　along。　　There　is　a　way　into　the　hall　by　this　door；〃　she
cried；　catching　his　hand　and　hurrying　him　into　the　dancing　room
again。

At　the　conclusion　of　their　dance　they　came　upon　Patricia　near　the
main　entrance；　in　great　distress。　　〃I　have　not　seen　Captain　Jack
anywhere；〃　she　lamented。　　〃Have　you；　Adrien？　　I　have　just　sent　Vic
for　a　final　search。　　I　simply　cannot　go　home　till　I　have　had　my
dance。〃　　The　girl　was　almost　in　tears。

〃Never　mind；　dear；〃　said　Adrien。　　〃He　has　many　duties　to…night　with
all　these　players　to　look　after。　　I　think　we　had　better　go　whenever
Vic　returns。　　I　am　awfully　sorry　for　you；　Patricia；〃　she　added。
〃No！　　Don't！　　You　simply　must　not　cry　here。〃　　She　put　her　arm
around　her　sister's　shoulder；　her　own　lips　trembling；　and　drew　her
close。　　〃Where　has　Vic　gone；　I　wonder？〃

That　young　man；　however；　was　having　his　own　trials。　　In　his　search
for　Maitland　he　ran　across　McNish；　whom　he　recognised　as　Annette's
partner　in　the　first　dance。

〃Hello！〃　he　cried。　　〃Do　you　know　where　Captain　Maitland　is；　by　any
chance？〃

〃No；　how　should　I　know；〃　replied　McNish；　in　a　voice　fiercely
guttural。

〃Oh！〃　said　Vic；　somewhat　abashed。　　〃I　saw　you　dance　with　Annette
with　Miss　Perrotteand　I　thought　perhaps　you　might　know　where　the
Captain　was。〃

McNish　stood　glowering　at　him　for　a　moment　or　two；　then　burst
forth：

〃They　are　awa'he's　ta'en　her　awa'。〃

〃Away；〃　said　Vic。　　〃Where？〃

〃To　hell　for　all　I　ken　or　care。〃

Then　with　a　single　stride　McNish　was　close　at　his　side；　gripping
his　arm　with　fingers　that　seemed　to　reach　the　bone。

〃Ye're　a　friend　o'　his。　　Let　me　say　tae　ye　if　ony　ill　cames　tae
her；　by　the　leevin'　God　above　us　he　wull　answer　tae　me。〃　　Hoarse；
panting；　his　face　that　of　a　maniac；　he　stood　glaring　wild…eyed　at
the　young　man　before　him。　　To　say　that　Vic　was　shaken　by　this
sudden　and　violent　onslaught　would　be　much　within　the　truth。
Nevertheless　he　boldly　faced　the　passion…distracted　man。

〃Look　here！　　I　don't　know　who　you　are　or　what　you　mean；〃　he　said；
in　as　steady　tones　as　he　could　summon；　〃but　if　you　suggest　that　any
girl　will　come　to　harm　from　Captain　Maitland；　then　I　say　you　are　a
liar　and　a　fool。〃　　So　speaking；　little　Vic　set　himself　for　the　rush
which　he　was　firmly　convinced　would　come。　　McNish；　however；　stood
still；　fighting　for　control。　　Then；　between　his　deep…drawn　breaths；
he　slowly　spoke：

〃Ye　may　be　richt。　　A　hope　tae　God　A　am　baith　liar　and　fule。〃　　The
agony　in　his　face　moved　Vic　to　pity。

〃I　say；　old　chap；〃　he　said；　〃you　are　terribly　mistaken　somehow；　I
can　swear　to　that。　　Where　is　Maitland；　anyway；　do　you　know？〃

〃They　went　away　together。〃　　McNish　had　suddenly　gotten　himself　in
hand。　　〃They　went　away　in　his　car；　secretly。〃

〃Secretly；〃　said　Vic；　scornfully。　　〃Now；　that　is　perfect　rot。　　Look
here；　do　you　know　Captain　Maitland？　　I　am　his　friend；　and　let　me
tell　you　that　all　I　ever　hope　to　own；　here　and　hereafter；　and　all
my　relatives　and　friends；　I　would　gladly　trust　with　him。〃

〃Maybe；　maybe；〃　muttered　McNish。　　〃Ye　may　be　richt。　　A　apologise；
sir；　but　if〃　　His　eyes　blazed　again。

〃Aw；　cut　out　the　tragedy　stuff；〃　said　Vic；　〃and　don't　be　an　ass。
Good…night。〃

Vic　turned　on　his　heel　and　left　McNish　standing　in　a　dull　and　dazed
condition；　and　made　his　way　toward　the　ballroom。

〃Who　is　the　Johnny；　anyway？〃　he　said　to　himself。　　〃He　is　mad
looneyutterly　bughouse。　　Needs　a　keeper　in　the　worst　way。　　But
what　about　the　Captainmust　think　up　something。　　Let's　see。　　Taken
suddenly　ill？　　Hardlythere　is　the　girl　to　account　for。　　Her
mothergrandmotheror　somethingstrickenlet's　see。　　Annette
has　a　brotherBy　Jove！　the　very　thingI've　got　itbrother　met
with　an　accidentrun　overfell　down　a　wellanything。　　Hurry
callambulance　stuff。　　Good　line。　　Needs　working　up　a　bit；　though。
What　has　happened　to　my　grey　matter？　　Let　me　think。　　Ah；　yeswhen
that　Johnny　brought　word　of　an　accident；　a　serious　accident　to　her
brother；　Maitland；　naturally　enough；　the　gallant　soul；　hurries　her
off　in　his　car；　sending　word　by　aforesaid　mad　Johnny。〃

Vic　went　to　the　outer　door；　feeling　the　necessity　for　a　somewhat
careful　conning　of　his　tale　to　give　it；　as　he　said　himself；　a
little　artistic　verisimilitude。　　Then；　with　his　lessonas　he
thoughtwell　learned；　and　praying　for　aid　of　unknown　gods；　he　went
back　to　find　his　partner。

〃If　only　Patricia　will　keep　out　of　it；〃　he　said　to　himself　as　he
neared　the　hall　door；　〃or　if　I　could　only　catch　old　Hugh　first。
But　he　is　not　much　of　a　help　in　this　sort　of　thing。　　Dash　it　all！
I　am　quite　nervous。　　This　will　never　do。　　Must　find　a　waygood
effectcool　and　collected　stuff。〃　　So；　ruminating　and　praying　and
moving　ever　more　slowly；　he　reached　the　door。　　Coming　in　sight　of
his　party；　he　hurried　to　meet　them。　　〃Awfully　sorry！〃　he　exclaimed
excitedly。　　〃The　most　rotten　luck！　　Old　Maitland's　just　been　called
off。〃

〃Called　off！〃　cried　Patricia；　in　dismay。　　〃Where　to！〃

〃Now；　don't　jump　at　me　like　that。　　Remember　my　heart。　　Met　that
Johnnythe　big　chap　dancing　with　Annette；　you　knowjust　met　him
quite　worked　upa　hurry　call　for　the　girlfor　the　girl；　Annette；
you　know。〃

〃The　girl！〃　exclaimed　Patricia。　　〃You　said　Captain　Jack。〃

〃I　know！　I　know！〃　replied　Vic；　somewhat　impatiently。　　〃I　am　a　bit
excited；　I　confess。　　Rather　nasty　thingAnnette's　brother；　you
knowsomething　wrongaccident；　I　think。　　Couldn't　get　the
particulars。〃

〃But　Annette's　brother　is　in　Toronto；〃　said　Adrien；　gravely。

〃Exactly！〃　cried　Vic。　　〃That　is　what　I　have　been　telling　you。　　A
hurry　callphone　message　for　Annettehorrible　accident。　　Maitland
rushed　her　right　away　in　his　car　to　catch　the　midnight　to　Toronto。〃

〃By　Jove！　　That　is　too　bad；〃　said　Hugh；　a　genuine　sympathy　in　his
honest　voice。　　〃That　is　hard　luck　on　poor　Annette。　　Tony　is　not
exactly　a　safe　proposition；　you　know。〃

〃Was　heis　he　killed？〃　cried　Patricia；　in　a　horror…stricken　voice。

〃Killed！　　Not　a　bit　of　it；〃　said　Vic　cheerfully。　　〃Slight　injury
but　serious；　I　mean。　　You　know；　just　enough　to　cause　anxiety。〃　　Vic
lit　another　cigarette　with　ostentatious　deliberation。　　〃Nasty
shock；　you　know；〃　he　said。

〃Who　told　you　all　this？〃　inquired　Rupert。

〃Who　told　me？〃　said　Vic。　　〃Why；　that　mad　Johnny。〃

〃Mad　Johnny？　　What　mad　Johnny？〃

Vic　said：　　〃Eh！　　What？　　You　know；　thatahrbig　chap　who　was
falling　over　her　in　the　fox　trot。　　Looked　kind　of　crazy；　you　know
big　chapScotch。〃

〃Where　is　he　now？〃　enquired　Rupert。

〃Oh；　I　fancy　about　there；　somewhere；〃　replied　Vic；　remembering　that
he　had　seen　McNish　moving　toward　the　door。　　〃Better　go　and　look　him
up　and　get　more　particulars。　　Might　help　some；　you　know。〃

〃Oh；　Adrien；　let　us　go　to　her；〃　said　Patricia。　　〃I　am　sure　Annette
would　love　to　have　you。　　Poor　Annette！〃

〃Oh！　　I　say！〃　interposed　Vic　hurriedly。　　〃There　is　really　no
necessity。　　I　shouldn't　like　to　intrude　in　family　affairs　and　that
sort　of　thing；　you　know　what　I　mean。〃

Adrien's　grave；　quiet　eyes　were　upon　Vic's　face。　　〃You　think　we　had
better　not　go；　then；〃　she　said　slowly。

〃Sure　thing！〃　replied　Vic；　with　cheerful　optimism。　　〃There　is　no
necessityslight　accidentno　need　to　make　a　fuss　about　it。〃

〃But　you　said　it　was　a　serious　accidenta　terrible　thing；〃　said
Patricia。

〃Oh；　now；　Patricia；　come　out　of　it。　　You　check　a　fellow　up　so　hard。
Can't　you　understand　the　Johnny　was　so　deucedly　worked　up　over　it
he　couldn't　give　me　the　right　of　it。　　Dash　it　all！　　Let's　have
another　turn；　Patricia！〃

But　Adrien　said：　　〃I　think　we　will　go　home；　Hugh。〃

〃Very　well；