“Oh, my God, my God. But don’t you know if he is dead or alive?”
“No, Olivia,” said Margaret.
“Charles was landing to find him when the Spaniards attacked,” said Perrin. “He was wounded. They wounded him, Olivia.”
“You left him, alone, Charles. Alone. To be killed.”
“We’ll bring him back, Olivia. We can win him back.”
“Oh, but he may be killed. He may be killed. He may be dead now.”
“Beg pardon, ma’am,” said Cammock. “We think he’s gone over to the Spaniards, with my book of charts as Basil draw.”
“You think he’s left, left us. You think, Charles. Do tell me. Tell me.”
“They think he’s gone into the city, Olivia,” Margaret said, “to tell the Spaniards of our plans. Into the city, Olivia. We saw him go into the city a long time before. They think he caused the attack on us. In the water. It was like a bad dream. Don’t. Don’t. I’ll bring him back, Olivia. We’ll bring him back to-morrow.”
“I’m quite calm, Charles,” said Olivia in a shaking voice. “I’m quite calm. Look at my hand here. You see.”