The Silent Shore: A RomanceBloundelle-Burton, John
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The Silent Shore: A Romance
Bloundelle-Burton, John
English fiction -- 19th century
"I am delighted to hear you are in England, and have got an
appointment as agent for Don Rodriguez in London. Perhaps, now, I
shall have some respite from those fearful threats which, at
intervals, from your boyhood, you have hurled at me, at Juanna, and
every one you really love. Come and see me when you can, only come as
late as possible as I am out much; and we will have a talk about the
old place and old times.
"Ever yours, in haste, W. C.
"P.S.--I wish poor Juanna could have lived to know of your good
fortune."
"Do you think I should murder that man, Lord Penlyn?" Señor Guffanta
asked quietly. "That man who, when he heard of my good fortune, could
think of how happy it would have made my beloved sister--she who is
now in her grave."
"Whatever I may have thought must be ascribed to the intense desire I
and my friends have to find his murderer, and you must pardon the
suspicion that came to our minds in reading your letters. But, Señor
Guffanta, let us forget that and speak about finding him, since you
also are anxious to avenge Walter, and feel sure that you can do so."
"I am perfectly sure. And before long I shall stand face to face with
him. Then his doom is certain!"
Again Lord Penlyn noticed the self-constrained calm of the man, and
again he told himself that he spoke with such an air of certainty that
it was impossible to doubt him. For one moment the thought came to his
mind that this apparent calmness, this certainty of finding the
murderer, might be a rôle assumed by Guffanta to prevent suspicion
falling upon him. But on reflection that thought took flight. Had he
been the murderer he would never have revealed himself, would never
have allowed it to be known that he was _Corot_, the man against whom
circumstances had looked so black. And Cundall's letter was sufficient
to show that what the Señor had told him, about the friendship that
had existed between them, was true.
"You must know more than any of us, Señor Guffanta, as no doubt you
do--to inspire you with such confidence of finding him. Had he any
enemy in Honduras, who may now be in England, and have done this
deed?"
"To my knowledge, none. He was a man who made friends, not enemies."
"How then, do you hope to find the man who killed him?"
"I hope nothing, Lord Penlyn, for I am sure to find him. What will you
say when I tell you that I have seen his murderer's face?"
"You have seen his face? You know it!" the other exclaimed, springing
to his feet. "Oh, let me at once send for the detectives and the
lawyers, so that you may describe him to them, and let them endeavour
to find him. But," he said suddenly, "where have you seen him?"
There was an almost contemptuous smile upon the Señor Guffanta's face
as he said:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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