by M. P. Shiel
IX
HOGARTH'S GUNS
At the moment when Hogarth was peering through the telescope, a man wasloitering before his cottage--one of the Hall's park-keepers; andwhen Margaret put out her head to look for Richard's coming, the manwhistled.
In a moment a note was in her hand.
"DEAR MISS HOGARTH,
"This is to ask you to be certain sure to meet me this evening at 9 P.M.on the towpath. It isn't to-day that you are well aware of the state ofmy feelings toward you: but it is not to talk sweethearting that Iwish to see you now, but about your brother, and the matter is aboutas important as can be. If I were in your place, I should destroy thisletter.
"Yours, with my respects,
"BARUCH FRANKL".
Margaret tore it up, and "My goodness!" she thought, "what is anyone todo? If I only had the money to make up those fifty pounds! May the HolySpirit guide me now...!"
Later in the evening she stole out, and met Frankl.
He assumed a very respectful tone.
"Miss Hogarth", said he at once, "have you heard?"
"No, sir".
"You have not been told that your brother has been to the Hall?"
"What in patience for?"
"He came--you couldn't believe--to beat me!"
"Richard! I don't understand. When?"
"Yesterday". (In reality it was four weeks before.)
"But what about?"
"Revenge! Blind, murderous revenge for turning him neck and crop out ofLagden!"
"You _are_ in a temper! But I can't understand a word of it!"
"Well, that is what I had to tell you. He came to my house--And how goodhave I been to this man! Didn't I send him the fifty pounds--?"
"Well, that _was_ kind. But I must tell you, Mr. Frankl, that Richardknows nothing of the fifty pounds--"
"Well, then it is _your_ fault! Oh, he did not know of the fiftypounds? Then it is your fault entirely, this rage of his against me--Hethreatened to shoot me dead--thrice he threatened--soon, he said--"
"Not Richard?"
"Yes, Richard!--your nice Richard! But what did I want you for to-night?It was to let you see that I have it in my power to let your brother infor three months hard--not less. But you know, my dear, don't you, thatI wouldn't do anything to give you pain? That is why, so far, I'vetaken no steps. But your brother must be unarmed. I can't have my lifeexposed, after his threats, and all".
"Unarmed...."
"Yes. I have it on good authority that your brother has guns. I musthave those guns put into my own hands by you..."
"But I couldn't! He would find out..."
"Then I must act, that's all. Or no--I give you another chance--tell himof the fifty pounds I sent--that may disarm him in another way--"
He was sure that this she would not now do, yet felt relieved when shecried out: "I couldn't! Not now! Can't you see?"
"Well, there is nothing to be done, then. I must act, that's all".
"But don't be _hard_! What can I do? Sooner or later he'd be sure tomiss them!"
"Poh! he is not always shooting, I suppose? And after a few weeks I'dgive them back. Anyway, think it over: and I'll be here on Tuesday nightnext at nine to receive them. Good night--"
She looked palely after him, her feet in a net, new to her, woven ofconcealments and deceit.
At eleven that night she was sitting in their diminutiveparlour,--Hogarth at a table inscribing the association's names receivedby post that evening; and at last, bending low over her sewing, shesaid: "Richard, is it true you have been to the Hall?"
He started! "Yes. Who told you?"
"I heard it".
He looked at her piercingly. "_Answer!_"
"I heard it", she said with a stubborn nod, quite pallid.
He turned upon her a stare of displeasure; but in that second they hearda shouting down the village, ran to the front, and saw heaven all likecancer and cracked window-panes, for from a central plash of passion theshattered asteroid had shot long-lingering ribbons of lilac light overthe bowl of the sky.
