“It had to be done. She was young, so sweet, so good, aye, she was good-in her soul she was good, ah, surelee. That’s why she died in the pond. No one knew. The inquest did not bring out anything, but that’s why he died; and ever since I’ve been mourning; life has no rest for me. I’m not sorry for what I did. I’ve told it you because you saved me years ago when I fell down the bank. You were only fourteen then, but I’ve never forgotten. And she, that sweet young lady, she—she was there too; and now when I look at this Tarboe, the brother of that man, and see her and know what I know—sacre!” He waved a hand. “No-no-no, don’t think there’s anything except what’s in the soul. That man has touched ma’m’selle—I don’t know why, but he has touched her heart. Perhaps by his great bulk, his cleverness, his brains, his way of doing things. In one sense she’s his slave, because she doesn’t want to think of him, and she does. She wants to think of you—and she does—ah, bagosh, yes!”
“Yes, I understand,” remarked Carnac morosely. “I understand.”
“Then why do you let her be under Tarboe’s influence? Why don’t—”
Carnac thrust out a hand that said silence. “Denzil, I’ll never forget what you’ve told me about yourself. Some day you’ll have to tell it to the priest, and then—”
“I’ll never tell it till I’m on my death-bed. Then I’ll tell it, sacre bapteme, yes!”
“You’re a bad Catholic, Denzil,” remarked Carnac with emotion, but a smile upon his face.
“I may be a bad Catholic, but the man deserved to die, and he died. What’s the difference, so far’s the world’s concerned, whether he died by accident, or died—as he died. It’s me that feels the fury of the damned, and want my girl back every hour: and she can’t come. But some day I’ll go to M’sieu’ Luke Tarboe, and tell him the truth, as I’ve told it you—bagosh, yes!”
“I think he’d try and kill you, if you did. That’s the kind of man he is.”
“You think if he knew the truth he’d try and kill me—he!”
Carnac paused. He did not like to say everything in his mind. “Do you think he’d say much and do little?”