With a nod, he
entered, threw himself down on the cabin sofa, and asked for a match.
After a pause, he said: "Marmion, Boyd Madras, alias Charles Boyd, has
recognised me."
I rose to get a cigar, thus turning my face from him, and said: "Well?"
"Well, there isn't anything very startling. I suppose he wishes I had
left him in the dingey on No Man's Sea. He's a fool."
"Indeed, why?"
"Marmion, are your brains softening? Why does he shadow a woman who
wouldn't lift her finger to save him from battle, murder, or sudden
death?"
"From the code," I said, in half soliloquy.
"From the what?"
"Oh, never mind, Hungerford. I suppose he is shadowing--Mrs. Falchion?"
He eyed me closely.
"I mean the woman that chucked his name; that turned her back on him when
he was in trouble; that hopes he is dead, if she doesn't believe that he
is actually; that would, no doubt, treat him as a burglar if he went to
her, got down on his knees, and said: 'Mercy, my girl, I've come back to
you a penitent prodigal. Henceforth I shall be as straight as the sun, so
help me Heaven and your love and forgiveness!'"
Hungerford paused, as if expecting me to reply; but, leaning forward on
my knees and smoking hard, I remained silent.
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