Запретный лес
III. Guests in Calidon Tower
Sempill,andIwishyoualonglifeinWoodilee."
Thetroopersdidnotseemtosharetheirhost’sgeniality.Quickglancespassedbetweenthem,andthetallmanshiftedhisseatsothathecamebetweenDavidandthegroom.Thislatterhadtakennopartintheconversation,indeedhehadnotspokenaword,butafterhismealwasfinishedhadsatwithhisheadonhisbreastasifsunkinmeditation.NowheraisedhiseyestoDavid,anditwashewhospoke.
"IamnotlessloyaltotheKirkofScotlandthanyou,Mr.Sempill.Youareaplacedminister,andIamahumbleelderofthatKirk."
"Inwhatparish?"Davidaskedeagerly.
"InmynativeparishbenorthofForth."
Theman’sdressandstationwereforgottenbyDavidwhenhelookedathisface.Nowthathesawclearlyinthecandle-light,itwasnotthefaceofacommongroom.Everyfeaturespokeofrace,thefirmmouthofcommand,thebroodinggreyeyesofthought.Thevoicewassweetandmusical,andtheman’swholeairhadagentlebutimperiouscourtesy.
Themovementofthetalltrooper,whileithadseparatedDavidfromthegroom,hadbroughtthelatterfullintotheviewofNicholasHawkshaw.Thenastrangethinghappened.Thehost,afteralongstare,duringwhichamazementandrecognitionwokeinhiseyes,halfrosefromhisseatandseemedonthevergeofspeaking.Hisgazewasfixedonthegroom,andDavidreadinitsomethingatoncedeferentialandexulting.Thenthetoeofthelameman’sbootcamedownonhisshin,andthelameman’shandwaslaidonhisarm.Thelameman,too,saidsomethinginatonguewhichDavidcouldnotunderstand.
