"I haven't got it yet," Wilkes said. At the same moment the door was flung open. Barney stood on the threshold.
His eyes briefly took in the scene. Then he stepped forward and took Wilkes by the back of the collar. He yanked him past the bed, to the doorway, to allow the man who had come with him to step to Joshua's bed. For a second Barney looked as though he were trying to control his anger. Then the violence blazed forth. "D'ye break your parole so easy?" With angry hands he flung the Britisher backwards into the hall and laid him flat on his back. Barney swung around.
"Joshua!" he said, coming over to the bed. "I've brought you the best surgeon in the city, Dr. Hindman. I pray to God you haven't suffered too much at the hands of that bloody incompetent! Lucie, give him some brandy!"
Dr. Hindman took Joshua's hand and stood over him, feeling the pulse. "A little brandy, Mr. Harris," he said, "and then we shall look at your leg. Barney, you're exciting my patient! I don't need you, nor you, madam."
Once more Lucie spoke. "I can aid you, sir. I am trained."
Dr. Hindman smiled. "You are, Lucie? I'll be glad for your help."
Joshua's eyes glittered with pain and excitement. "Barney, the 'Triton,' 32! I can finance her!"
Barney said, "I've already given your boys at the yards the order to get to work on her!"
Dr. Hindman said, "Barney!"
Barney grinned. "That intelligence will calm him down. There's nothing more to be done now for him to worry over. I'll go now. Doctor."
"I'll throw you out," Hindman said, smiling, but keeping his eyes
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on Joshua's and his fingers on his pulse. Joshua was sipping the brandy Lucie held to his lips.
"It won't take long," Barney said comfortingly. He turned to Douglass. She looked white and shaken. He stood aside for her to precede him, and closed the door behind them. "I've had bullets dug out of me, sweetheart," he whispered. "It hurts—but that passes, too."
She did not answer. Wilkes had got to his feet. He backed off from Barney. Barney said levelly:
"When a man disobeys an order he gets punished." He motioned him to the stairs.
Wilkes went. He went slowly down the steps and toward the big doorway. The two men who had brought Joshua home were still standing out front, and a crowd had gathered because they knew Barney was in the house. Barney called to the two men.
"Throw this man in jail," he said curtly. "He's broken parole." He closed the big doors and turned to face Douglass.
She was looking at him incredulously. She whirled away from him, and into the long room at the right. In the silence the clock struck three.
Barney took a long stride to come through the archway into the drawing room. Four feet away she stood, facing him, her great grey eyes in her white face regarding him; they dropped from his face past the wide shoulders to the big belt with a pair of pistols.
Barney stood and looked at her. Her eyes were on his hands, and he looked down at them. One hand was still marked with blood. He pulled the pistols from his belt and laid them on the polished top of the clavichord; the murderous layments were held back in place now against the long barrels. He took a step toward her.
"I'd like something to drink, Madam Harris, if you will."
She brushed past him; he smelled faint perfume. He heard her tell Marston to bring brandy and whiskey. She turned back to him.
"Is that what you want?" she asked.
Barney went over to the window and sat on the deep sill. He waited till Marston appeared with a tray which he set on the coffee table. Marston left the room. Then Barney said, "I'd prefer whiskey, if you please."
Douglass said, "Won't you help yourself, sir?"
"Yes, if you don't want to do it for me." He went over to the coffee table and poured two glasses of whiskey; he brought one over
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to her. He tossed his off and went on, slowly, "It was the fault of bad seamanship. Then, as a final foolish gesture. Captain Rodgers refused to surrender his sword. Rather than surrender it to me, he threw it overboard, silver and all."
"I'm proud that he did!" Douglass said.
He stood over her. "He might better have destroyed these."
Douglass stared at what he held in his hand. Her heart beat fast. "They are—"
"Yes, English. The codebooks." He put them back under his coat. He went over to the coffee table and poured another glass of whiskey. "He'll be court-martialed and broke, probably. Are you ready to join me? To the day's events!"
Douglass hurled her glass into the fireplace; against the bricks it shattered. "Join you?" she cried. She rose to face him.
"Sir," she said, "Mr. Wilkes came here expressly because I begged it of him!"
Barney frowned.
Douglass thought he understood. "It was not his fault, therefore."
"Not his fault?" Barney repeated. "Madam, when a man gives his word it's no excuse that he breaks it for a woman. In fact, it's less excuse. You'll pardon that line of reasoning, I'm sure."
Douglass said incredulously, "You won't have him released then?"
"No, madam," said Barney. Then he said, "But I will not have him placed in a dungeon, with irons on both legs and wrists. Nor will I starve him!" He took her hand and swung her around to face him. "I have my real prize in the codebooks! Ah, here is Dr. Hind-man." He dropped her hand.
Dr. Hindman said, "You cannot see him now, sir. But the bullet was removed quickly. It was not in the bone." He opened his palm. "You see, it is still in its original shape. Madam, he will probably be feverish; he has lost much blood. Miss Lucie is competent. I shall myself return this evening, even if it is late. I go now to the hospital, where Captain Barney has sent all the wounded. And if you should need me, before I come, send a note."
"Thank you. Doctor."
"I'm ready, Barney. Goodbye, madam."
"Goodbye, Doctor," Douglass said.
Barney bent over her hand. "Your obedient servant, madam," he said. "Please tell Joshua I'll call tomorrow, and if he wants me, send word."
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Douglass stood by herself in the empty room. She went slowly toward the hall. On the top of the clavichord lay the two gleaming pistols. She stopped.
She ran one finger over the long barrel. Then she withdrew her hand quickly and went upstairs.
Chapter 16
THE DOOR TO JOSHUA'S ROOM STOOD OPEN. A LOW FIRE BURNED IN the grate and atop the mantel the clock ticked in the silent room.
The bedcurtains were hooked back; the candles flickered; the clock struck gently three times. Douglass changed her position slightly. Then she saw Lucie.
Lucie slipped into the room. She was fully dressed, in her grey gown and tiny white apron. "Madame," she whispered.
Douglass threw a glance at the sleeping figure of Joshua. She rose and drew Lucie out into the hall. "What is it?"
Lucie said, "You must sleep, madame. I have wakened and dressed. I will take up the vigil."
Douglass said, "It is three. I had been thinking; I did not realize how late it was."
"I will watch over him, Mr. Joshua," Lucie said.
Douglass nodded. "He is asleep." She started away. "But call me, Lucie, should you need me."
"Oui, madame. I have turned down your bed."
Lucie tiptoed back into the silent room. A chair had been pulled up to the bed; Lucie sat down in it.
Joshua lay full length in the big bed, one arm flung out as though he had pushed the pillow aside and fallen asleep in that position. Lucie leaned forward and touched his hand. It was not too hot; she leaned back in the chair and sighed with relief, keeping her eyes on him. She could look her fill; he was sleeping quietly. She could hear his breath; his chest rose and fell evenly. Then suddenly he moved, a quick restless turn; the quick movement must have hurt his leg. He spoke; then his eyes opened.