Page:Cup of Gold-1929.djvu/265
Cup of Gold
he had done or failed to do, Perhaps he remembers Chagres, Emil.”
“Chagres!” Sir Henry bent forward with excitement, “What happened after I sailed away? Tell me!”
“You were cursed, sir, as it is given to few men to be cursed. You were tortured in men's minds. They feasted on your heart and sent your soul to hell. I enjoyed the scene rarely, because I knew that every man there envied you while he reviled you. I was proud of you, sir.”
“And they scattered?”
“They scattered and died, poor little children.”
“Anyway, I should have hated to fall in with those poor little children! Tell me,” Sir Henry's voice had become wistful, “tell me about Panama. We did go there, didn't we? We really captured Panama, didn't we, and looted it? It was I who led you, wasn't it?”
“It was so. It was a grand fight and an ocean of plunder—but, after all, you know more about that last than we do.”
“Sometimes I doubt whether this body ever went to Panama. I am sure this brain did not. I would like to stay and talk to you of that old time, but my wife expects me. She is apt to fuss if I am late for luncheon.” He spoke jocosely. “When would you like to be hanged?”
The Burgundians were whispering together.
“Ah, there is that `hanged' again. When would we like to be hanged? Any time, sir. We do not wish to put you to the trouble, but if you insist
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