The Master of Man: The Story of a SinCaine, Hall, Sir
General
The Master of Man: The Story of a Sin
Caine, Hall, Sir
Infanticide -- Fiction; Isle of Man -- Fiction; Legal stories; Redemption -- Fiction
"Wonderful! He snatched the woman out of the jaws of death, Sir!"
"The Deemster's a grand man, but he'll have to be looking to his
laurels!" "Man alive, that was a speech that must have been dear to
a father's heart, though!"
Stowell was one of the first to appear. He looked pale, almost ill,
and was carrying his soft felt hat in his hand, for the Courthouse
had been close and there was perspiration on his forehead still. A
way was made for him and he passed through the courtyard without
speaking or making sign, until he came under the arch of the
Portcullis and there he was stopped by someone. It was Fenella. She
was waiting for the Governor and hoping she might come upon Stowell
also. Her eyes were red and swollen.
"How magnificent you were!" she said. And then with a half-tremulous
laugh: "But how could you see into a woman's heart like that? I
shall always be afraid of you in future, Sir!"
The Deemster came next. He was muffled in his great-coat and scarf,
and was walking heavily on his stick, but there was a proud look in
his uplifted face. With his left hand he grasped Victor's right, but
he did not look at him, and he passed on without a word. Fenella
followed, offering her arm, but he insisted on giving his--the grand
old gentleman to the last.
But this time the Attorney-General had taken possession of Stowell.
He had lost his case, but one of his "boys" had won it. "I've just
been telling your father I always knew the root of the matter was in
you," he said, and then others gathered around.
The Governor came last, having had documents to sign, and taking
Stowell's arm, he carried him away, saying, "Come along--they'll kill
you."
The Deemster's dog-cart had now gone, but the Governor's carriage was
at the gate, with Fenella inside.
"Don't forget your promise about Ballamoar," she said.
"I'm going to-morrow," said Stowell.
Just then there was a commotion among the crowd. The liberated woman
was coming out of the Castle, surrounded by a tumultuous company of
her friends from the back streets. She saw Stowell by the carriage
door, and breaking away from her companions she rushed up to him,
threw herself at his feet, laid hold of his hand and covered it with
kisses.
"That settles it," said Fenella, in a thick voice, after the woman
had been carried off. "Now you know what the future of your life is
to be--that of the champion of wronged and helpless women."
At the railway station, and in the railway carriage, Stowell's fellow
advocates overwhelmed him with congratulations, but he hardly heard
them. At last he folded his arms and closed his eyes, and, thinking
he was tired, they left off troubling him.
On arriving at Ramsey his pulses were beating fast, and on going down
the High Street, past the Old Plough Inn, he hardly felt the ground
under his feet.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account