The Silent Shore: A RomanceBloundelle-Burton, John
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The Silent Shore: A Romance
Bloundelle-Burton, John
English fiction -- 19th century
That night Guffanta stood in the library of what had once been Walter
Cundall's house in Grosvenor Place, in the room in which the murdered
man had spent hours of agony after he had learned that Ida Raughton's
love was given to another; and to Mr. Stuart he told all that he knew.
To Lord Penlyn's request, nay to his command, that he should tell him
all, he paid no attention; indeed, he vouchsafed no words to him
beyond those of suspicion and accusation.
"I know so much," he said, speaking in the calm, cold voice which had
only once failed him--the time when he had discovered that the
assassin had in some way obtained entrance to the deserted garden
during his absence, "as to be able to say that you are not your
brother's murderer. But, unless there is something very strange that
as yet I do not know, that murderer is known to you, and you are
shielding him from me."
"It is false!" Lord Penlyn said, advancing to him and standing boldly
and defiantly before him. "As God hears me, I swear that it is false.
And you _shall_ tell me what you know, you shall justify your vile
suspicions of me."
"Yes," the Señor replied, "I shall justify them, but not _to_ you.
Meanwhile, have a care that I do not prove you to be an accomplice in
this murder. Have a care, I say!"
"I defy you and your accusations. And the law shall make you speak out
plainly."
"I am about to speak out plainly, this very night. But I am not going
to speak plainly to the man whose house affords a refuge to his
brother's murderer."
Lord Penlyn sprang at him, as he heard these words fall from his lips,
as he had once sprung at his own brother in the Park when that brother
told him he was bearing a name not rightly his; and once more he felt
himself in a grasp of iron, and powerless.
"Be careful!" Señor Guffanta said, as he hurled him back, "be careful,
or I shall do you an injury."
Stuart had endeavoured to come between them, but before he could do so
the short struggle was over, and then the Spaniard turned to him and
said, "I must speak with you alone. Come with me," and, turning, left
the room.
Before Stuart followed him he spoke to Penlyn, and said: "Do not take
this too seriously to heart. This man is evidently under some
delusion, if not as to the actual murderer, at least as to your
connection with the crime. Perhaps, when he has told me what he knows,
we shall find out where the error lies; and then he will ask your
pardon for his suspicions."
"It is too awful!" Penlyn said, "too awful to be borne. And I can do
nothing. I wish I could have killed him as he stood there falsely
accusing me, but he is a giant in strength."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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