Warleggan by Winston Graham Page B

himself liking her less. Her single mistake had distorted all their lives, pulling them out of their natural pattern. Then, having picked the wrong man, she had let him know it, and he, deprived of her love but not of his need for her, had run the conversational course downhill watched and blamed by Ross who thought he had all he could desire. Their lives had been the tragedy of one woman who couldn't make up her mind.
    Far better now if he had never known. The knowledge served no purpose but to destroy what was left of his peace of. mind. The result of all this, contrariwise, had been a new warmth in his feelings for Demelza. He wouldn't have been able to explain why, unless it was that he felt Demelza incapable of any such behaviour.
    When he got to his own front door he heard a man's voice and surprised the coattails of Malcolm McNeil , who was, just taking his leave.
     
    Demelza smiled over her, visitor's shoulder. `Oh, Ross, I was afraid you was underground, or I should have sent for you. Captain McNeil has, been entertaining me with stories of the American W ar. I wonder you Never speak of it yourself.'
    McNeil said: `Captain Poldark is more modest, I've no doubt. The latest news suggests we shall not need him again, just yet'
    'Oh, you've heard it?' said Ross in slight disa ppointment. 'My cousin has just told me. It may of course be exaggerated.'
    'From what I gather, the road to Paris is open - The sooner the city is occupied the better.'
    'No doubt you're; right. I confess I still have a sneaking sympathy for the republicans - if only they would behave like reasonable men and not like apes. If I were a Parisian, I should not want to open the gates to Francis of Austria.'
    McNeil said: `By, the way, did ye hear more of the man who killed his wife when I was last here, and escaped from your cove?'
    'Mark Daniel? No. I expect he was drowned. The dinghy he stole from us was barely seaworthy.'
    `Indeed, so?' McNeil looked at Ross with an unbelieving eye. `Well, I'll be on my way. I'm returning to Salisbury in a few days' time, but I doubt I shall be down again before long. It is a, fascinating part.'
    This last remark he seemed to address to Demelza. She said `I hope you'll take back a good report of our behaviour this time'
    McNeil said: `How could I do otherwise, ma'am?'
    Ross watched the Scotsman's broad-shouldered figure walking
    briskly up the valley.
    'He is a thought less impressive out of his soldier's clothes.
    I hope he did not come here because he suspects us of being concerned in the tub-carrying.' `Oh, no, he invited himself to call when we met last week.
    He is here only for his health this time. He has no interest in smuggling a t all.'
    `Did he tell you so?'
    `Yes ... Yes, he did! 'H'm,' said Ross.
    Demelza's indignation grew with her alarm. `I don't see that there is any reason to suspect him at all `Only that that was his business last time, and Cornwall i s a long way to come just for convalescence.' 'I'm certain sure you're wrong.'
    `You were careful what you said, I suppose?'
    `Of course! You should know I am more frightened of discovery than you, are,'
    Ross said, musingly: `I think I shall ride over and see Tremcrom tomorrow.'
    'Why? He promised there was to be no more landing in our cove until September ! ’
    'No, nor shall there be. I want to locate Mark Daniel'
    `I should not suppose it safe for him to come back.!
    'No. But he was in Cherbourg last Christmas. You know why we opened Wheal Grace. It was part on account of the old maps, part on account of what Mark told us when he hid in the old workings before we helped him to escape. Well, we have spent months trying to find out what he found. Why should we not get him to help us? In a few more months it will be too late.! ’
    'I'd rather Mark came than you went, Ross. Up till now you've taken no real part in the Trade.! ’
    'Well,, the first thing is to' see if he can be found'
    `No, Ross, that isn't the first thing.'
    `All right, I'll not go