Запретный лес

           "

           Hetoldherofthemidnightvisittothemanseandthelamemanleftonhishands.

           "Yousawhim?"shewhispered."YousawtheLordMarquis.Howdidhelook?Washeverywearyandsorrowful?"

           "Hewaswearyenough,butyonfacedoesnotshowsorrow.There’sanardourinitthatburnsupallweakness.Hewouldcontinuetohopemanfullythoughhisneckwereontheblock."

           "Indeedthatistrue,andthatiswhyIwillnotdespair.WhenIheardthenewsofdisasterIdidnotshedasingletear....Whomdidheleavebehind?"

           "Thetallman--MarkKerrishisname--whowasinthishouseofyoursayearback.Himthathasacastinhiseye."

           "ButthatistheLordMarquis’smostfamiliarfriend,"shecried."Theoccasionmustbedesperatewhichpartsthem."

           "Theoccasiongrowsmoredesperate,"hesaid,andtoldheroftheneedforinstantremoval.

           WhenhespokeoftheWoodsheshowednosurprise.

           "Whereelsesosecret?"shesaid.

           "Dareyougointoit?"heasked."ForunlessIhaveyourhelpthebusinessisliketoprovetoohardforme.Iwillconfessthatitsticksinmythroattostironestepmyselfintothegloomofthepines,whenIkenwhathasbeentransactedthere,anditstickssorertohaveyouinthatunholyplace.ButifthisKerristobesaved,there’sneedofusboth.Themanwillhavetobefed,andthatwouldbedonemoreeasilyfromCalidonthanfromthemanse."

           "Why,soitmustbe.Ihavebeenpiningforsomestirringtask,andhereitistomyhand.Iwillbeyourfellow-labourer,Mr.David,andwebeginthisverynight.Foramercythereisasmallmoon....No,AuntGrizelshallnothearofit.