Stair. From his lying quiet and keeping the Cherokees in tow, there will
be some deviltry afoot, I'll warrant."
I knew that Falconnet was waiting for the powder cargo, but another
matter crowded this aside.
"But--but Margery?" I queried, on sharpest tenter-hooks to know how much
or little he had heard.
I thought his brow darkened at the question, but mayhap it was only a
shadow cast by the flickering fire. At any rate, he laughed hardily.
"She is well--and well content, I dare swear. 'Twas only yesterday I saw
her taking the air on the river road, with Falconnet for an escort. You
told me once he had a sure hand with the women and it made me mad; but,
truly, I have come to think you drew it mild, Jack."
Now though I could ply a decent ready blade, or keep a firing line from
lurching at a pinch, I had not learned to put a snaffle on a blundering
tongue, as I have said before.
"Damn him as you please, Dick, and he'll warrant it. But you must not
judge the lady over harshly, nor always by appearances. She may have
flouted you as a boyish lover, and yet I think--"
I stopped in sheer bewilderment, shot through and through with keenest
agonies of remorseful recollection. For at the moment I had clean forgot
the gulf impassable I had set between these two. So I would have lapsed
into shamed silence, but Jennifer would not suffer it.
"Well, what is it that you think?" he demanded.
"I think--nay, I may say I know that she thinks well of you, Dick," I
blundered on, seeing no way to put him off.
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