by shore and sedge(沙滩和苔草旁)-第32章
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entrance under Sleight's directions。 With a feeling that if Rosey had been
present he would have confessed all； and demanded from her an equal
confidence； he began to hate his feeble； purposeless； and inefficient
alliance with her father； who believed but dare not tax his daughter with
complicity in this outrage。 What could be done with a man whose only
idea of action at such a moment was to nail up an undisturbed entrance in
his invaded house！ He was so preoccupied with these thoughts that when
Nott rejoined him in the cabin he scarcely heeded his presence； and was
entirely oblivious of the furtive looks which the old man from time to time
cast upon his face。
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〃I reckon ye wouldn't mind；〃 broke in Nott； suddenly； 〃ef I asked a
favor of ye； Mr。 Renshaw。 Mebbee ye'll allow it's askin' too much in the
matter of expense； mebbee ye'll allow it's askin' too much in the matter o'
time。 But I kalkilate to pay all the expense； and if you'd let me know what
yer vally yer time at； I reckon I could stand that。 What I'd be askin' is this。
Would ye mind takin' a letter from me to Rosey； and bringin' back an
answer？〃
Renshaw stared speechlessly at this absurd realization of his wish of a
moment before。 〃I don't think I understand you；〃 he stammered。
〃P'r'aps not；〃 returned Nott； with great gravity。 〃But that's not so much
matter to you ez your time and expenses。〃
〃I meant I should be glad to go if I can be of any service to you；〃 said
Renshaw； hastily。
〃You kin ketch the seven o'clock boat this morning； and you'll reach
San Rafael at ten〃
〃But I thought Miss Rosey went to Petaluma；〃 interrupted Renshaw
quickly。
Nott regarded him with an expression of patronizing superiority。
〃That's what we ladled out to the public gin'rally； and to Ferrers and his
gang in partickler。 We SAID Petalumey； but if you go to Madrono Cottage；
San Rafael； you'll find Rosey thar。〃
If Mr。 Renshaw required anything more to convince him of the
necessity of coming to some understanding with Rosey at once it would
have been this last evidence of her father's utterly dark and supremely
inscrutable designs。 He assented quickly； and Nott handed him a note。
〃Ye'll be partickler to give this inter her own hands； and wait for an
answer；〃 said Nott gravely。
Resisting the proposition to enter then and there into an elaborate
calculation of the value of his time and the expenses of the trip； Renshaw
found himself at seven o'clock on the San Rafael boat。 Brief as was the
journey it gave him time to reflect upon his coming interview with Rosey。
He had resolved to begin by confessing all； the attempt of last night had
released him from any sense of duty to Sleight。 Besides； he did not doubt
that Nott's letter contained some reference to this affair only known to
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Nott's dark and tortuous intelligence。
VIII
Madrono Cottage lay at the entrance of a little canada already green
with the early winter rains； and nestled in a thicket of the harlequin painted
trees that gave it a name。 The young man was a little relieved to find that
Rosey had gone to the post…office a mile away； and that he would probably
overtake her or meet her returningalone。 The roadlittle more than a
trailwound along the crest of the hill looking across the canada to the
long； dark； heavily…wooded flank of Mount Tamalpais that rose from the
valley a dozen miles away。 A cessation of the warm rain； a rift in the sky；
and the rare spectacle of cloud scenery； combined with a certain sense of
freedom； restored that lighthearted gayety that became him most。 At a
sudden turn of the road he caught sight of Rosey's figure coming towards
him； and quickened his step with the impulsiveness of a boy。 But she
suddenly disappeared； and when he again saw her she was on the other
side of the trail apparently picking the leaves of a manzanita。 She had
already seen him。
Somehow the frankness of his greeting was checked。 She looked up at
him with cheeks that retained enough of their color to suggest why she had
hesitated； and said； 〃YOU here； Mr。 Renshaw？ I thought you were in
Sacramento。〃
〃And I thought YOU were in Petaluma；〃 he retorted gayly。 〃I have a
letter from your father。 The fact is； one of those gentlemen who has been
haunting the ship actually made an entry last night。 Who he was； and what
he came for； nobody knows。 Perhaps your father gives you his suspicions。〃
He could not help looking at her narrowly as he handed her the note。
Except that her pretty eyebrows were slightly raised in curiosity she
seemed undisturbed as she opened the letter。 Presently she raised her eyes
to his。
〃Is this all father gave you？〃
〃All。〃
〃You're sure you haven't dropped anything？〃
〃Nothing。 I have given you all he gave me。〃
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〃And that is all it is。〃 She exhibited the missive； a perfectly blank sheet
of paper folded like a note！
Renshaw felt the angry blood glow in his cheeks。 〃This is
unpardonable！ I assure you； Miss Nott； there must be some mistake。 He
himself has probably forgotten the inclosure；〃 he continued； yet with an
inward conviction that the act was perfectly premeditated on the part of
the old man。
The young girl held out her hand frankly。 〃Don't think any more of it；
Mr。 Renshaw。 Father is forgetful at times。 But tell me about last night。〃
In a few words Mr。 Renshaw briefly but plainly related the details of
the attempt upon the Pontiac； from the moment that he had been awakened
by Nott； to his discovery of the unknown trespasser's flight by the open
door to the loft。 When he had finished； he hesitated； and then taking
Rosey's hand； said impulsively； 〃You will not be angry with me if I tell
you all？ Your father firmly believes that the attempt was made by the old
Frenchman； de Ferrieres； with a view of carrying you off。〃
A dozen reasons other than the one her father would have attributed it
to might have called the blood to her face。 But only innocence could have
brought the look of astonished indignation to her eyes as she answered
quickly：
〃So THAT was what you were laughing at？〃
〃Not that； Miss Nott；〃 said the young man eagerly： 〃though I wish to
God I could accuse myself of nothing more disloyal。 Do not speak； I beg；〃
he added impatiently； as Rosey was about to reply。 〃I have no right to hear
you； I have no right to even stand in your presence until I have confessed
everything。 I came to the Pontiac； I made your acquaintance； Miss Nott；
through a fraud as wicked as anything your father charges to de Ferrieres。
I am not a contractor。 I never was an honest lodger in the Pontiac。 I was
simply a spy。〃
〃But you didn't mean to beit was some mistake； wasn't it？〃 said
Rosey； quite white； but more from sympathy with the offender's e
