Убийство на поле для гольфа
22. I Find Love
Ikneltdownbyher,holdingherinmyarms,andsmoothingthehairbackfromherface.
“Don’tcry,child,don’tcry,forGod’ssake.You’resafehere.I’lltakecareofyou.Don’tcry,darling.Don’tcry.Iknow—Iknoweverything.”
“Oh,butyoudon’t!”
“IthinkIdo.”Andafteramoment,ashersobsgrewquieter,Iasked:“Itwasyouwhotookthedagger,wasn’tit?”
“Yes.”
“Thatwaswhyyouwantedmetoshowyouround?Andwhyyoupretendedtofaint?”
Againshenodded.Itwasastrangethoughttocometomeatthemoment,butitshotintomymindthatIwasgladhermotivewaswhatithadbeen—ratherthantheidleandmorbidcuriosityIhadaccusedherofatthetime.Howgallantlyshehadplayedherpartthatday,inwardlyrackedwithfearandtrepidationasshemusthavebeen.Poorlittlesoul,bearingtheburdenofamoment’simpetuousaction.
“Whydidyoutakethedagger?”Iaskedpresently.
Sherepliedassimplyasachild:
“Iwasafraidtheremightbefinger-marksonit.”
“Butdidn’tyourememberthatyouhadworngloves?”
Sheshookherheadasthoughbewildered,andthensaidslowly:
“Areyougoingtogivemeupto—tothePolice?”
“GoodGod!no.”
Hereyessoughtminelongandearnestly,andthensheaskedinalittlequietvoicethatsoundedafraidofitself:
“Whynot?”
Itseemedastrangeplaceandastrangetimeforadeclarationoflove—andGodknows,inallmyimagining,Ihadneverpicturedlovecomingtomeinsuchaguise.ButIansweredsimplyandnaturallyenough:
“BecauseIloveyou,Cinderella.
