Miles Hendon sank into a chair and covered his face with his
hands. After a pause, his brother said to the servants:
'You have observed him. Do you know him?'
They shook their heads; then the master said:
'The servants know you not, sir. I fear there is some mistake. You
have seen that my wife knew you not.'
'Thy wife!' In an instant Hugh was pinned to the wall, with an
iron grip about his throat. 'Oh, thou fox-hearted slave, I see it all!
Thou'st writ the lying letter thyself, and my stolen bride and goods
are its fruit. There- now get thee gone, lest I shame mine honorable
soldiership with the slaying of so pitiful a manikin!'
Hugh, red-faced and almost suffocated, reeled to the nearest
chair, and commanded the servants to seize and bind the murderous
stranger. They hesitated, and one of them said:
'He is armed, Sir Hugh, and we are weaponless.'
'Armed? What of it, and ye so many? Upon him, I say!'
But Miles warned them to be careful what they did, and added:
'Ye know me of old- I have not changed; come oh, an it like you.'
This reminder did not hearten the servants much; they still held
back.
'Then go, ye paltry cowards, and arm yourselves and guard the
doors, while I send one to fetch the watch,' said Hugh. He turned,
at the threshold, and said to Miles, 'You'll find it to your advantage
to offend not with useless endeavours at escape.'
'Escape? Spare thyself discomfort, an that is all that troubles
thee.
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