Запретный лес
XII. The Man with the Squint
Thefacewasgrimedandblood-stained,buttherewasnomistakingthefeatures:itwasthetalltrooperwiththesquintwhomhehadonceguidedtoCalidon.
Davidsoughtthekitchenandhammeredatthedoorofthepress-bed.Thesnoringceased,andpresentlyascaredandmuffledvoicedemandedwhatwasthetrouble.
"Getup,woman,"Davidordered."There’sasickmanherethathasneedofyou."
ThreeminuteslaterIsobelappeared,shawledandnightcapped."Keepus,Mr.David,is’tyoursel’that’sseeck?"shewailed."Ididnalikethelooko’yethedayand--"
Hecuthershort.
"Afriendofminehashadamischance.Hislegisbroken,andIthinkthereisothertrouble.Listen,Isobel....ThemanisoneofMontrose’ssoldiers,andMontrose’sarmyhassuffereddefeat.Ifheisfoundherebythepursuingtroops,hewilldie.Heismyfriend,andIwouldsavehim.YouandImustnursehimbetweenus,andnowordofhispresenceheremustpassthesedoors."
"Mercyonus!Amalignant!"theoldwomanexclaimed.
"Andmyfriend,"saidDavidcurtly."IfIthinkitconsistentwithChristiandutytosavehislife,sowellmayyou.YouandIhavenoquarrelwithstrickenmen.Iappealtothekindheartthatisinyouandyourregardforme,andIdonotthinkIwillappealinvain."
"Yourwullbedone,"saidIsobel."Whauristhebody?SeeandI’llgetblanketsandpillows,forthebedhasnabeenmadeupthissaxmonths.
