Похищенный
Chapter 23
Ihadamindtoeat,moreover,rosefrombedofmyownmovement,andassoonaswehadbreakfasted,steppedtotheentryoftheCageandsatdownoutsideinthetopofthewood.Itwasagreydaywithacool,mildair:andIsatinadreamallmorning,onlydisturbedbythepassingbyofCluny’sscoutsandservantscomingwithprovisionsandreports;forasthecoastwasatthattimeclear,youmightalmostsayheheldcourtopenly.
WhenIreturned,heandAlanhadlaidthecardsaside,andwerequestioningagillie;andthechiefturnedaboutandspoketomeintheGaelic.
“IhavenoGaelic,sir,”saidI.
Nowsincethecardquestion,everythingIsaidordidhadthepowerofannoyingCluny.“Yournamehasmoresensethanyourself,then,”saidheangrily,“forit’sgoodGaelic.Butthepointisthis.Myscoutreportsallclearinthesouth,andthequestionis,haveyethestrengthtogo?”
Isawcardsonthetable,butnogold;onlyaheapoflittlewrittenpapers,andtheseallonCluny’sside.Alan,besides,hadanoddlook,likeamannotverywellcontent;andIbegantohaveastrongmisgiving.
“IdonotknowifIamaswellasIshouldbe,”saidI,lookingatAlan;“butthelittlemoneywehavehasalongwaytocarryus.”
Alantookhisunder-lipintohismouth,andlookedupontheground.
“David,”saysheatlast,“I’velostit;there’sthenakedtruth.”
“Mymoneytoo?”saidI.
“Yourmoneytoo,”saysAlan,withagroan.“Yeshouldnaehavegivenitme.I’mdaftwhenIgettothecartes.
