Chapter XLI
WIDDERIN SHOWS CLEARLY THAT HE IS WORTH
ALL THE MONEY SAM GAVE FOR HIM.
The Sergeant, as I said, broke in upon us with the fearful news as we sat at wine. For a minute no man spoke, but all sat silent and horror struck. Only the Doctor rose quietly, and slipped out of the room unnoticed.
Desborough spoke first. He rose up with deadly wrath in his face, and swore a fearful oath, an oath so fearful, that he who endorsed every word of it then, will not write it down now. To the effect, "That, he would take neither meat, nor drink, nor pleasure, nor rest, beyond what was necessary to keep body and soul together, before he had purged the land of these treacherous villains!"
Charles Hawker went up to the Sergeant, with a livid face and shaking hands; "Will you tell me again, Robinson, ARE THEY ALL DEAD?"
The Sergeant looked at him compassionately. "Well, sir!" he said; "the boy seemed to think Mrs. and Miss Mayford had escaped. But you mustn't trust what he says, sir."
"You are deceiving me," said Charles. "There is something you are hiding from me, I shall go down there this minute, and see."
"You will do nothing of the kind, sir," said Mrs. Buckley, coming into the doorway and confronting him; "your place is with Captain Desborough. I am going down to look after Ellen."
During these few moments, Sam had stood stupified. He stepped up to the Sergeant, and said,—
"Would you tell me which way they went from the Mayfords'?"