按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
be cautious if I would preserve my peace of mind。'
'Well； to my mind； Captain De Stancy； your objections seem
trivial。 Are those all？'
'They are all I care to mention just now to you。'
'Captain！ can there be secrets between us？'
De Stancy paused and looked at the lad as if his heart wished
to confess what his judgment feared to tell。 'There should
not beon this point；' he murmured。
'Then tell mewhy do you so much object to her？'
'I once vowed a vow。'
'A vow！' said Dare； rather disconcerted。
'A vow of infinite solemnity。 I must tell you from the
beginning； perhaps you are old enough to hear it now； though
you have been too young before。 Your mother's life ended in
much sorrow； and it was occasioned entirely by me。 In my
regret for the wrong done her I swore to her that though she
had not been my wife； no other woman should stand in that
relationship to me； and this to her was a sort of comfort。
When she was dead my knowledge of my own plaguy
impressionableness； which seemed to be ineradicableas it
seems stillled me to think what safeguards I could set over
myself with a view to keeping my promise to live a life of
celibacy； and among other things I determined to forswear the
society； and if possible the sight； of women young and
attractive； as far as I had the power to do。'
'It is not so easy to avoid the sight of a beautiful woman if
she crosses your path； I should think？'
'It is not easy； but it is possible。'
'How？'
'By directing your attention another way。'
'But do you mean to say； captain； that you can be in a room
with a pretty woman who speaks to you； and not look at her？'
'I do： though mere looking has less to do with it than mental
attentivenessallowing your thoughts to flow out in her
directionto comprehend her image。'
'But it would be considered very impolite not to look at the
woman or comprehend her image？'
'It would； and is。 I am considered the most impolite officer
in the service。 I have been nicknamed the man with the
averted eyesthe man with the detestable habitthe man who
greets you with his shoulder； and so on。 Ninety…and…nine fair
women at the present moment hate me like poison and death for
having persistently refused to plumb the depths of their
offered eyes。'
'How can you do it； who are by nature courteous？'
'I cannot alwaysI break down sometimes。 But； upon the
whole； recollection holds me to it： dread of a lapse。
Nothing is so potent as fear well maintained。'
De Stancy narrated these details in a grave meditative tone
with his eyes on the wall； as if he were scarcely conscious of
a listener。
'But haven't you reckless moments； captain？when you have
taken a little more wine than usual； for instance？'
'I don't take wine。'
'O； you are a teetotaller？'
'Not a pledged onebut I don't touch alcohol unless I get
wet； or anything of that sort。'
'Don't you sometimes forget this vow of yours to my mother？'
'No； I wear a reminder。'
'What is that like？'
De Stancy held up his left hand； on the third finger of which
appeared an iron ring。
Dare surveyed it； saying； 'Yes； I have seen that before；
though I never knew why you wore it。 Well； I wear a reminder
also； but of a different sort。'
He threw open his shirt…front； and revealed tattooed on his
breast the letters DE STANCY； the same marks which Havill had
seen in the bedroom by the light of the moon。
The captain rather winced at the sight。 'Well； well；' he said
hastily； 'that's enough。 。 。 。 Now； at any rate； you
understand my objection to know Miss Power。'
'But； captain；' said the lad coaxingly； as he fastened his
shirt； 'you forget me and the good you may do me by marrying？
Surely that's a sufficient reason for a change of sentiment。
This inexperienced sweet creature owns the castle and estate
which bears your name； even to the furniture and pictures。
She is the possessor of at least forty thousand a yearhow
much more I cannot saywhile； buried here in Outer Wessex；
she lives at the rate of twelve hundred in her simplicity。'
'It is very good of you to set this before me。 But I prefer
to go on as I am going。'
'Well； I won't bore you any more with her to…day。 A monk in
regimentals！'tis strange。' Dare arose and was about to open
the door； when； looking through the window； Captain De Stancy
said； 'Stop。' He had perceived his father； Sir William De
Stancy； walking among the tombstones without。
'Yes； indeed；' said Dare； turning the key in the door。 'It
would look strange if he were to find us here。'
As the old man seemed indisposed to leave the churchyard just
yet they sat down again。
'What a capital card…table this green cloth would make；' said
Dare； as they waited。 'You play； captain； I suppose？'
'Very seldom。'
'The same with me。 But as I enjoy a hand of cards with a
friend； I don't go unprovided。' Saying which； Dare drew a
pack from the tail of his coat。 'Shall we while away this
leisure with the witching things？'
'Really； I'd rather not。'
'But；' coaxed the young man； 'I am in the humour for it； so
don't be unkind！'
'But； Willy； why do you care for these things？ Cards are
harmless enough in their way； but I don't like to see you
carrying them in your pocket。 It isn't good for you。'
'It was by the merest chance I had them。 Now come； just one
hand； since we are prisoners。 I want to show you how nicely I
can play。 I won't corrupt you！'
'Of course not；' said De Stancy； as if ashamed of what his
objection implied。 'You are not corrupt enough yourself to do
that； I should hope。'
The cards were dealt and they began to playCaptain De Stancy
abstractedly； and with his eyes mostly straying out of the
window upon the large yew； whose boughs as they moved were
distorted by the old green window…panes。
'It is better than doing nothing；' said Dare cheerfully； as
the game went on。 'I hope you don't dislike it？'
'Not if it pleases you；' said De Stancy listlessly。
'And the consecration of this place does not extend further
than the aisle wall。'
'Doesn't it？' said De Stancy； as he mechanically played out
his cards。 'What became of that box of books I sent you with
my last cheque？'
'Well； as I hadn't time to read them； and as I knew you would
not like them to be wasted； I sold them to a bloke who peruses
them from morning till night。 Ah； now you have lost a fiver
altogetherhow queer！ We'll double the stakes。 So； as I was
saying； just at the time the books came I got an inkling of
this important business； and literature went to the wall。'
'Important businesswhat？'
'The capture of this lady； to be sure。'
De Stancy sighed impatiently。 'I wish you were less
calculating； and had more of the impulse natural to your
years！'
'Gameby Jove！ You have lost again； captain。 That makes
let me seenine pounds fifteen to square us。'
'I owe you that？' said De Stancy； startled。 'It is more than
I have in cash。 I must write another cheque。'
'Never mind。 Make it payable to yourself； and our connection
will be quite unsuspected。'
Captain De Stancy did as requested； and rose from his seat。
Sir William； though further off； was still in