For once she had no answer for me. She turned away, sobbing a little, but I had no remorse. She had just kicked the only good idea for a life I’d ever had into pieces. Moreover, she had made me pay her dowry so that she could marry somebody else. Well and good, but kiss her on top of that! A man can be noble to just such an extent without turning his stomach.
Once more I looked out over the bridge, knowing with unshakeable positiveness that a clear way lay before me. No further incidents would occur to keep me in this country which had held so much for me. The power of the Pict, or whatever it was, was through with me.
Oh well! I began limping toward where Conan was waiting. Ann had sense enough to walk away when she saw me coming; but she would have told him, and he would know better than try to dissuade me from leaving.
He looked as done in and dispirited as I felt while I drew near where he stood with sagging shoulders, gazing at me haggardly through sweat-lank hair that he didn’t bother to brush from his eyes. “Let’s get drunk,” he said when we had looked at each other a minute.
“Thank God for the wine,” I said.
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three