"That is an admirable girl, I would I could oblige her in the matter and let this Audaine live. But such folly2 is out of the question. The man is the heart of the conspiracy3.
"No, Captain Audaine, I am afraid we must have that handsome head of yours, and set your spirit free before this month is out. And your head also, Mr. Vanringham, when we are done with using your evidence. This affair must be the last; hitherto we have tried leniency4, and it has failed; now we will try extermination5. Not one of these men must escape.
"I shall have trouble with Marian, since the two girls are inseparable. Yes, this Audaine will cause me some trouble with Marian. I heartily6 wish the fellow had never been born."
Ormskirk took a miniature from his pocket and sat thus in the dusk regarding it. It was the portrait of a young girl with hazel eyes and abundant hair the color of a dead oak-leaf. And now his sleepy face was curiously7 moved.
"I shall have to lie to you. And you will believe me, for you are not disastrously8 clever. But I wish it were not necessary, my dear. I wish it were possible to make you understand that my concern is to save England rather than a twopenny captain. As it is, I shall lie to you, and you will believe. And Dorothy will get over it in time, as one gets over everything in time. But I wish it were not necessary, sweetheart.
"I wish…. I wish that I were not so happy when I think of you. I become so happy that I grow afraid. It is not right that anyone should be so happy.
Ormskirk struck upon the gong. "And now, Mr. Langton, let us get back to business."
IV
Later in the afternoon Miss Allonby demanded of her maid if Gerald Allonby were within, and received a negative response. "Nothing could be better," said Miss Allonby. "You know that new suit of Master Gerald's, Lottrum—the pink-and-silver? Very well; then you will do thus, and thus, and thus—" And she poured forth10 a series of directions that astonished her maid not a little.
"Law you now!" said Lottrum, "whatever—?"
"If you ask me any questions," said Dorothy, "I will discharge you on the spot. And if you betray me, I shall probably kill you."
Lottrum said, "O Gemini!" and did as her mistress ordered.
Miss Allonby made a handsome boy, and such was her one comfort. Her mirror showed an epicene denizen11 of romance,—Rosalind or Bellario, a frail12 and lovely travesty13 of boyhood; but it is likely that the girl's heart showed stark14 terror. Here was imminent15 no jaunt16 into Arden, but into the gross jaws17 of even bodily destruction. Here was probable dishonor, a guaranteeable death. She could fence well enough, thanks to many bouts18 with Gerald; but when the foils were unbuttoned, there was a difference which the girl could appreciate.
"In consequence," said Dorothy, "I had better hurry before I am still more afraid."
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1
meditation
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| n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录 | |
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2
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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3
conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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4
leniency
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| n.宽大（不严厉） | |
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5
extermination
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| n.消灭，根绝 | |
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6
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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7
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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8
disastrously
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| ad.灾难性地 | |
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9
dotage
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| n.年老体衰；年老昏聩 | |
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10
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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11
denizen
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| n.居民，外籍居民 | |
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12
frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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13
travesty
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| n.歪曲，嘲弄，滑稽化 | |
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14
stark
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| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 | |
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15
imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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16
jaunt
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| v.短程旅游；n.游览 | |
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17
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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18
bouts
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| n.拳击（或摔跤）比赛( bout的名词复数 )；一段（工作）；（尤指坏事的）一通；（疾病的）发作 | |
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