Заборонений ліс
XIII. White Magic
"
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.