Заборонений ліс
XII. The Man with the Squint
"Iamcrippled,asyousee,sir--anaccursedfail-dykeonMinchmoordidit--andyou’llnotbewantingthiskindofmerchandiselongonyourhands.Adrinkandsixhours’sleepwillsetmeup,andI’llmakeshifttotaketheroad.Letmebideheretillthemorn’snight,andyou’llberidofme."
"You’llnotbefittomoveforaweek.Youcansleepheresecurely.You’reinafriend’scharge."
Thesickmanwasanoldsoldierwhotooklifeasitcame.Afterhehaddrunkabowlofgruellacedwithusquebagh,heturnedonhissideandfellasleep.DavidandIsobelwentdowntothekitchenand,withthecandlebetweenthem,lookedateachotherwithsomethinglikeconsternation.
"Wemustburnthoseclothes,"saidDavid.
"Na,na.I’llmakeabundleo’themandhidetheminthecupples.It’sbrawraiment,ginitwerecleaned.Butoh,sir,thisisabonnykettleoffish!WhowadhaethochttoseesuchwarkinthemanseofWoodilee?"
"Itisaworkofmercy."
"There’ssomewadcallitbyanithername.There’ssomewadsayitwasturnin’backfromthegudefight,andafaintin’andabackslidin’ontheroad.I’dbefearedtothinkwhatyonthrawnministero’Boldwadcallit,butitwadnabemercy.He’dbeforsavin’thepuirladasJaelthewifeofHebertheKenitesavedSisera."
"Iwillbepartytonosuchwickedness,whichwouldbeanoffenceagainsthumancharityaswellasagainstthelawofChrist."
"Ay,charity.I’mblithetohearyespeaktheword,sir."Isobel’seyeshadaninclinationtotwinkle.
"Imustfollowtheguidingofmyownconscience.ButIwouldnotconstrainyou.
