第28章

"Wa'al, I reckon that, as far as I know Mrs.Demorest," said Ezekiel, dryly, "it don't make the least difference to her either;but if you want to know my opinion o' this matter, it is that neither you nor Demorest exactly understand that woman.I've known Joan Salisbury since she was so high, but if ye expected me to tell you wot she was goin' to do next, I'd be able to tell ye where the next flash o' lightnin' would strike.It's wot you don't expect of Joan Salisbury that she does.And the best proof of it is that she filed papers for a divorce agin you in Chicago and got it by default a few weeks afore she married Demorest--and you don't know it."Blandford recoiled."Impossible," he said, but his voice too plainly showed how clearly its possibility struck him now.

"It's so, but it was kept secret by Deacon Salisbury.I overheerd it.Wa'al, that's a proof that you don't understand Joan, Ireckon.And considerin' that Demorest HIMSELF don't know it, ez Ifound out only the other day in talking to him, I kalkilate I'm safe in sayin' that you're neither o' you quite up to Deacon Salisbury's darter in nat'ral cuteness.I don't like to obtrude my opinion, Squire Blandford, ez we're old friends, but I do say, that wot with Demorest's prematooriness and yer own hangfiredness, it's a good thing that you two worldly men hev got Joan Salisbury to stand up for North Liberty and keep it from bein' scandalized by the ungodly.Ef it hadn't been for her smartness, whar y'd both be landed now? There's a heap in Christian bringin' up, and a power in grace, Squire Blandford."His hard, dry face was for an instant transfigured by a grim fealty and the dull glow of some sectarian clannishness.Or was it possible that this woman's personality had in some mysterious way disturbed his rooted selfishness?

During his speech Blandford had walked to the window.When Corwin had ceased speaking, Blandford turned towards him with an equally changed face and cold imperturbability that astonished him, and held out his hand."Let bygones be bygones, Corwin--whether we ever meet again or not.Yet if I can do anything for you for the sake of old times, I am ready to do it.I have some power here and in San Francisco," he continued, with a slight touch of pride, "that isn't dependent upon the mere name I may travel under.Ihave a purpose in coming here."

"I know it," said Ezekiel, dryly."I heard it all from your two friends.You're huntin' some man that did you an injury.""I'm hunting down a dog who, suspecting I had some secret in emigrating here, tried to blackmail and ruin me," said Blandford, with a sudden expression of hatred that seemed inconsistent with anything that Ezekiel had ever known of his old master's character--"a scoundrel who tried to break up my new life as another had broken up the old." He stopped and recovered himself with a short laugh."Well, Ezekiel, I don't know as his opinion of me was any worse than yours or HERS.And until I catch HIM to clear my name again, I let the other slanderers go.""Wa'al, I reckon you might lay hands on that devil yet, and not far away, either.I was up at Demorest's to-day, and I heard Joan and a skittish sort o' Mexican young lady talkin' about some tramp that had frightened her.And Miss Pico said--""What! Who did you say?" demanded Blandford, with a violent start.

"Wa'al, I reckoned I heerd the first name too--Rosita."A quick flush crossed Blandford's face, and left it glowing like a boy's.

"Is SHE there?"

"Wa'al, I reckon she's visitin' Joan," said Ezekiel, narrowly attentive of Blandford's strange excitement; "but wot of it?"But Blandford had utterly forgotten Ezekiel's presence.He had remained speechless and flushed.And then, as if suddenly dazzled by an inspiration, he abruptly dashed from the room.Ezekiel heard him call to his passive host with a Spanish oath, but before he could follow, they had both hurriedly left the house.

Ezekiel glanced around him and contemplatively ran his fingers through his beard."It ain't Joan Salisbury nor Dick Demorest ez giv' him that start! Humph! Wa'al--I wanter know!"