The San Francisco call., 1908-04-26
CHAPTER xxx
My lord clalms the penalty

My Lord Claims the Penalty
HEY engaged almost Immediately; many
minutes nothing but the clash of swords could
be heard in the room. Those who were nearest
the ring declared that my lord fought with
great address but losing from the outset.
Clever as his touch neat quick steps despite
his years he had that of submission which is the
premonition defeat if sympathetic
faces all about him. comrades of the gttering hours.
companions of the table the road. he also
in their eyes indifference which should
have been surprise him. Many of these he had
loaded with gifts; he had saved from the prison
from exile. Tomorrow they would seek a
patron which put such
Inconvenience NY lord well of it He
doubted If he had friend in all the house.
And Richard Escombe. what of him? Socially
traczeo for three years this bidding, his pride
singing him. the knowledge that he had all and
lost all in brief hour-were these thoughts
inant in his mind had he opened it to others? God
alone knows that He knew that Kitty loved him.
He knew that the hours of folly and doubt
by forever. but would that knowledge help him?
Tomorrow before the sun should set he must answer
IN honor to the ribald crew which surrounded him
He heard Kittys voice for the last time but the
author of his misfortunes remained; and seeing only
the face before him writing there upon tablet
the bitter story of his grefs he steeled his heart
against compassion bringing every faculty
help he the feeble guard aad laid my
.ord dying man upon the crimson carpet before him
And there arose such babble of voices such
and cries and curses as never had been known
and never would be known again in the story of Med
menham abbey.
While some crowded about my lord others ran out
bawling for their horses striking the lackeys
layed and proclaimng themselves little better
madmen The women fell very orgy, drinking
moaning. weeping, quarreling Lights were put out
hdders sent headong. all the doors thrown open
very highroad made pandemonium-
In the refectory itself strong hands lifted my lord
to the couch and the men who stood about by
every which could compel their honor that he
should not die unavenged
The rule their armament And had not Sir
Richard Escombe declared himself that he would
swer with his life before the hour of sunset?
There We're men gailoping amany TO London during
lords disaster. -
Never in the story of the He'll Fire club had such
huzly burly Of retreat been known
Men in their alarm forgot the of those
who had come under their protection to the place
The women scared to desperation went home as
they could some in ehaises taken haphazard; some
upon the saddles Of the least cowardly of mas
queraoers; others trapsng IT like very drabs
And yet we find that among those were Jeff
behind the women outnumbered the men considerably.
Some OF these, poor souls had little enough
London was no eternal city for them. with its cold
ana harsn streets It's black darkness and its un-
changing poverty Here, at Medmenham they had
discovered fields winding river and a clear
might follow after
So. too. the men were incapable of going.
Mere strplings unaccustomed to the bottle they
At dawn, unaware that there had been any trouble
few. and these the oldest and the shrewdest of
the members, knew that they would be responsible
were resolved to him through. After risks
Of discovery were small Was not Sir Richard still in
determined that he should not leave?
We must get nay his own house and then
deal with the man afterward." Tobias said wisely
Whatever may have been promise we cannot hold
oy A. gentlemen. A scandal at Medmenham might be
hanging matter Let his ordship be moved safely to
London and the rest is easy will answer for it,
who have seen the old place through troubles
and Will see IL through more in the days to come"
To which Ailsa rejoined that IL depended upon my
lord and the physician they from Read
ing Neither he nor any might deny that Har-
bornes condition a perilous one Living there
almost where he had fallen upon bed dragged from
the chaplan's room, his face as the dawn
light this actor in many courtiy play laid down
his mask forever. The he spoke were not
of but of the future 1t horrible to see the
pasied hand raised to gesture of menace while he
cried. The penalty, the penalty" He pay the
penalty" for this desire of vengeance remained su-
preme. The club must deal with Richard Escombe
He will the words in hell" Churchill said
with shrug. AS for the of be lucky
when get home. Whatever is TO be asked Of Rich
ard Escombe must not be asked this night. all
agreed that. gentlemen"
be made of the truth will get abroad
] upon your discretion. gentlemen Lord Har-
borne has fallen from his horse. He here
in the condition in which find him. If the truth
comes afterward ft will be easy ode with it
Whatever happens II must not be known that he fell
here"
which is to suppose that Escombe will hold his
He will hold his tongue when tell him that we
abrogate the rule There is nothing palmer. His
silence, compiaisance. Good God. gentlemen, we
could have this mans life Is he TO remain ignorant
that?'
He will be ignorant of it." said poet White
head. There is who is ignorant of nothing
Look to yourselves in the matter. for tell plainly