You will be the Superintendent."
"So! That's not merely a rumor about Blakeley? Runnels is fired,
eh?"
"Yes."
"If I choose not to give up Chiq--Miss Garavel, then what? It
means the end of me here, is that it?"
"If you 'choose'! Why, my dear, you have no choice whatever in the
matter. It is practically closed. You can do nothing--although, if
you really intend to make trouble, I shall walk inside when I
leave and inform the old gentleman, in which case he will probably
send the girl home at once, and take very good care to give you no
further opportunity. Ramon is only too anxious to marry her. As to
this being the end of you here, well, I really don't see how it
could be otherwise. No Kirk, it's for you to decide whether you
wish to be shown the secret path up the mountain or to scale the
cliffs unaided. There are no conditions. You merely mustn't play
the fool."
"And if I don't agree you will tell Mr. Garavel that I'm going to
make trouble?" He mused aloud, watching her out of the corner of
his eye. She said nothing, so he went on cautiously, sparring for
time.
"Well, inasmuch as this seems to be a plain business proposition,
suppose I think it over. When it comes time for our next dance,
I'll say yes or no.
Pages:
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433