Запретный лес
XII. The Man with the Squint
Themansestoodattheextremesouthernendofthekirkton,beyondthekirk,alongbowshotfromthenearestdwelling,whichwasRobbthebellman’s.TothewestofitlaythebroomyslopesoftheHillofDeer,totheeasttheglenoftheburnandWindywayshill,andtothesouththeroughmeadowsthroughwhichtheroaddippedtotheWood.Itwasalonelyspot,asIsobeloftentestified,andafternightfallnosoulcamenearit;evenatravelleronthehighwaydidnotpasswithinhalfamile.
Hisstudywindowopenedonthegarden,andthesoundseemedtocomefromsomeoneknockinggentlyonthebackdoor.David,stillconfusedwithsleep,tookhiscandleanddescendedthestairs.Isobelhadheardnothing--forthemuffledsoundofhersnorescamefromthepress-bedbehindthekitchen....Againthesoftknockingcame,thistimewithamoreinsistentsound.InsometrepidationDavidunboltedthedoor,tellinghimselfthatitmightbeasummonstoattendadyingparishioner.
Therewaslittlemoonandathickautumnhazecoveredtheground.Risingoutofit,likeshipsoutofthewater,werehugefigures,andhesawthattheyweremountedmen.Oneofthemsathishorseandheldtheotherbeasts;onewasonhisfeetandsupportedathird,whoseemedveryweary.
Davidraisedhiscandle,andsawthefigureofthestandingman.Thefacewasdarkwithsun,butdarkerundertheeyeswithfatigue;thedress,oncerichandsplendid,wasbothmiredandtorn;andonehandwaswrappedinablood-stainedkerchief.
"DoIspeakwiththeministerofWoodilee?"themanasked,andatthefirstwordDavidknewhim.
