“It’s only a poor, mad creature, William,” she whispered—“shipwrecked and starving.”
“Mad?” Crayford repeated, approaching nearer and nearer to the man. “Am I in my right senses?” He suddenly sprang on the outcast, and seized him by the throat. “Richard Wardour!” he cried, in a voice of fury. “Alive!—alive, to answer for Frank!”
The man struggled. Crayford held him.
“Where is Frank?” he said. “You villain, where is Frank?”
The man resisted no longer. He repeated vacantly,
“Villain? and where is Frank?”
As the name escaped his lips, Clara appeared at the open yard door, and hurried into the room.
“I heard Richard’s name!” she said. “I heard Frank’s name! What does it mean?”
At the sound of her voice the outcast renewed the struggle to free himself, with a sudden frenzy of strength which Crayford was not able to resist. He broke away before the sailors could come to their officer’s assistance. Half-way down the length of the room he and Clara met one another face to face. A new light sparkled in the poor wretch’s eyes; a cry of recognition burst from his lips. He flung one hand up wildly in the air. “Found!” he shouted, and rushed out to the beach before any of the men present could stop him.
Mrs. Crayford put her arms round Clara and held her up. She had not made a movement: she had not spoken a word. The sight of Wardour’s face had petrified her.