Charles Rex Page 3

  CHAPTER III

  THE GIFT

  Saltash was the first to recover himself; he was seldom disconcerted,never for long.

  "Hullo!" he said, with a quizzical twist of the eyebrows. "You, is it?And what have you come for?"

  The intruder lowered his gaze abruptly, flushing to the roots of his fairhair. "I came," he said, in a very low voice, "to--to ask you something."

  "Then you've come some distance to do it," said Saltash lightly, "for Inever turn back. Perhaps that was your idea, was it?"

  "No--no!" With a vehement shake of the head he made answer. "I didn'tthink you would start so soon. I thought--I would be able to ask youfirst."

  "Oh, indeed!" said Saltash. And then unexpectedly he laid a hand upon onenarrow shoulder and turned the downcast face upwards. "Ah! I thought he'dmarked you, the swine! What was he drubbing you for? Tell me that!"

  A great purple bruise just above one eye testified to the severity of thedrubbing; the small, boyish countenance quivered sensitively under hislook. With sudden impulse two trembling hands closed tightly upon hisarm.

  "Well?" said Saltash.

  "Oh, please, sir--please, my lord, I mean--" with great earnestness thewords came--"let me stay with you! I'll earn my keep somehow, and Ishan't take up much room!"

  "Oh, that's the idea, is it?" said Saltash.

  "Yes--yes!" The boy's eyes implored him,--blue eyes with short blacklashes that imparted an oddly childish look to a face that was otherwisethin and sharp with anxiety. "I can do anything. I don't want to liveon charity. I can work. I'd love to work--for you."

  "You're a rum little devil, aren't you?" said Saltash.

  "I'm honest, sir! Really I'm honest!" Desperately the bony hands clung."You won't be sorry if you take me. I swear you'll never be sorry!"

  "What about you?" said Saltash. He was looking down into the upraisedface with a semi-quizzical compassion in his own. "Think you'd never besorry either?"

  A sudden smile gleamed across the drawn face. "Of course I shouldn't!You're English."

  "Ah!" said Saltash, with a faintly wry expression. "Not necessarily whiteon that account, my friend, so don't run away with that idea, I beg! I'mquite capable of giving you a worse drubbing than the good Antonio, forinstance, if you qualified for it. I can be a terrifically wild beastupon occasion. Look here, you imp! Are you starved or what? Do you wantsomething to eat?"

  The wiry fingers tightened on his arm. "No, sir--no, my lord--not really.I often don't eat. I'm used to it."

  "But why the devil not?" demanded Saltash. "Didn't they feed you overthere?"

  "Yes--oh, yes. But I didn't want it. I was--too miserable." The blue eyesblinked rapidly under his look as if half-afraid of him.

  "You little ass!" said Saltash in a voice that somehow reassured. "Sitdown there! Curl up if you like, and don't move till I come back!"

  He indicated the sofa, and quite gently but with decision freed his armfrom the nervously gripping hands.

  "You won't send me back?" the boy urged with quivering supplication.

  "No, I won't do that," said Saltash as he went away.

  He swore once or twice with considerable energy ere he returned, cursingthe absent Antonio in language that would have outmatched the Italian'sown. Then, having relieved his feelings, he abruptly laughed to himselfand pursued his errand with business-like briskness.

  Returning, he found his _protege_ in a small heap on the sofa, with hishead deep in the cushion as though he sought escape from the light. Againthe feeling of harbouring some small animal in pain came to him, and hefrowned. The mute misery of that huddled form held a more poignant appealthan any words.

  "Look here,--Toby!" he said. "I've brought you something to eat, and whenyou've had it you'd better get a sleep. You can tell me all about it--ifyou want to--in the morning."

  The boy started upright at his coming. He looked at Saltash in his quick,startled way. It was almost as if he expected a kick at any moment. Thenhe looked at the tray he carried and suddenly his face crumpled; he hidit in his hands.

  "Oh, dash it!" said Saltash. "Let's have a little sense!"

  He set down the tray and flicked the fair head admonishingly, with histhumb, still frowning. "Come! Be a sport!" he said.

  After a brief pause with a tremendous effort the boy pulled himselftogether and sat up, but he did not raise his eyes to Saltash again. Hekept them fixed upon his hands which were tightly clasped in front ofhim.

  "I'll do--whatever you tell me," he said, in a low voice. "No one hasever been so--decent to me before."

  "Have one of those rolls!" said Saltash practically. "You'll talk betterwith something inside you."

  He seated himself on the edge of his bunk and lit another cigarette, hisattitude one of royal indifference, but his odd eyes flashing to and frowith a monkey-like shrewdness that missed nothing of his desolatecompanion's forlorn state.

  "You've been doing this starvation business for some time, haven't you?"he asked presently. "No wonder you didn't feel like work."

  The boy's pinched face smiled, a small wistful smile. "I can work," hesaid. "I can do anything--women's work as well as men's. I can cook andclean boots and knives and sew on buttons and iron trousers and washshirts and wait on tables and make beds and sweep and--"

  "For heaven's sake, stop!" said Saltash. "You make me giddy. Tell me thethings you can't do instead! It would take less time."

  Toby considered for a few moments. "I can't drive cars," he said atlength. "But I can clean 'em, and I'd love to learn."

  Saltash laughed. "That's the sole exception, is it? You seem to havepicked up a good deal in a short time. Did they teach you all that overthere?"

  Toby shook his head. "I've knocked about a good lot," he said.

  "And know everything evidently," said Saltash. "What made you think ofcoming on board this yacht?"

  The boy's eyes gave him a shining look. "Because she belongs to you," hesaid.

  "Oh!" Saltash puffed at his cigarette for a few seconds. "You'd made upyour mind to throw in your fortunes with mine, had you?"

  Toby nodded. "I wanted to--if you'd have me."

  "Seems I haven't much choice," remarked Saltash. "And what are you goingto do when you're tired of me? Fling yourself at someone else's head, Isuppose?"

  Again he saw the hot colour flood the thin face, but the boyish eyes didnot flinch from his. "No, I shan't do that," said Toby, after briefreflection. "I'll just go right under next time."

  "Oh, will you?" said Saltash. "And so remain--a blot on my escutcheon forall time. Well now, look here! You say you're honest?"

  "Yes, sir," said Toby with breathless assurance, and sprang up and stoodbefore him with the words, as though challenging criticism.

  Saltash poked at him with his foot, as he sat. "Make me a promise?" heasked casually.

  "Anything you wish, my lord," said Toby promptly.

  Saltash grinned at him. "Be careful! I see you are of a rash andimpulsive disposition, and I like my slaves to have a little discretion.The promise I want is that whatever happens to you,--however much I kickyou or bash you or generally ill-use you--you'll never jump overboard ordo anything silly of that kind. Is it done?"

  Toby was standing before him, facing him with straight, candid eyes. Hedid not seem surprised at the suggestion so coolly made. Saltash notedthat it certainly did not shock him.

  "All right, sir," he said, after a moment.

  "It's a promise, is it?" said Saltash.

  Toby nodded. "Yes, sir."

  "Good!" said Saltash. He stretched out a hand and took him by one skinnyarm. "Better now?" he asked.

  "Yes, sir. Yes, my lord. Thank you, my lord." Toby's eyes smiling intohis.

  "Very well. I'll keep you," Saltash said. "Did anyone see you comeaboard?"

  "No, my lord."

  "Then you came with me, see? I brought you--if anyone wants to know."

  "Very good, my lord. Thank you, my lord."

  Saltash made a humorou
s grimace. "You can call me 'sir' if you like," hesaid. "It makes no difference."

  "Thank you, sir," said Toby with a responsive grin.

  "And your name is Toby, is it? Toby what?"

  "Toby Wright, sir." Very promptly the answer came.

  Saltash's eyes scrutinized him with half derisive amusement. "I hope it'sa good fit," he remarked. "Well, look here, Toby, you must go to bed. Didyou bring any luggage on board?"

  "No, sir. 'Fraid not, sir. Very sorry, sir. I came away in a hurry,"explained Toby rather nervously.

  "And stole the hotel livery," said Saltash.

  "No, sir. Borrowed it," said Toby.

  "Ho! You're going to pay for it, are you?" questioned Saltash.

  "Yes, sir, some day. First money I get, sir. Don't want to have anythingbelonging to that damn' Italian cur," said Toby, with much emphasis.

  "Naughty! Naughty!" said Saltash, pinching his arm. "Well, come along,and I'll show you where you can sleep. There's a small cabin out of mydressing-room you can have for the present. I haven't got my valet onboard."

  "Very good, sir, thank you. What time shall I call you, sir?" said Tobybrightly.

  "You needn't call me," said Saltash. "You can just lie quiet and takecare of that black eye of yours. I'll let you know when I want you."

  "Very good, sir," said Toby, looking crestfallen.

  Saltash stood up. "And you'll do as you're told--see?--always! That'sunderstood, is it?"

  Toby smiled again, eagerly, gratefully. "Yes, sir. Always, sir!" he saidpromptly. "Shall I take off your boots before I go, sir?"

  "No. Look after yourself for the present!" said Saltash. "And don't getup to mischief! There's a strict captain in command of this boat, soyou'd better mind how you go."

  The boy looked up at him with eyes of twinkling comprehension. He hadplainly forgotten the despair that had so nearly overwhelmed him.

  "Oh, I'll be very good, sir," he promised. "I won't get you into troubleanyhow, sir."

  "You--imp!" said Saltash, pulling his ear. "Think I'll put up with yourimpudence, do you? You'll play that game once too often if you're notcareful."

  Toby hastened to adjust his features to a becoming expression of gravity."I won't, sir. No, I won't. I'll be a good servant to you--the bestyou've ever had. I'll never forget your goodness to me, and I'll pay backsomehow--that I will, sir."

  His boyish voice suddenly throbbed with emotion, and he stopped. Againfor a moment he had the forlorn look of a small animal astray from itsown.

  Saltash patted his shoulder kindly. "All right. That'll do. Don't betragic about it! Come along to your burrow and have a good square sleep!"

  He led him away without further words, and Toby went, gratefully andsubmissively.

  A few minutes later Saltash came back with a smile on his ugly face,half-quizzical, and half-compassionate.

  "Rum little devil!" he commented again as he began to undress. "So thegods had a gift for me after all! Wonder what I shall do with it!"

  And then abruptly the smile became a mocking grimace that banished allthe kindliness from his face. He snapped his fingers and laughed as hehad laughed a little earlier when his cigarette had fallen into the waterwith a sound like the hiss of a serpent.

  "I--wonder!" he said again.