Iberville tossed his
sword aside, and presently wrung the blood from his white sleeve. The
girl saw him, and knew that he was wounded. She snatched a scarf from
her waist and ran towards him. "You are wounded," she said. "Oh, take
this!"
"I am so much sorry, indeed," he answered coolly, winding the scarf about
his arm. "Mistress Leveret came too soon."
His face wore a peculiar smile, but his eyes burned with anger; his voice
was not excited. Immediately, however, as he looked at Jessica, his mood
seemed to change.
"Morris," he said, "I am sorry. Mademoiselle," he added, "pardon! I
regret whatever gives you pain." Gering came near to her, and Iberville
could see that a flush stole over Jessica's face as he took her hand and
said: "I am sorry--that you should have known."
"Good!" said Iberville, under his breath. "Good! he is worth fighting
again."
A moment afterwards Morris explained to them that if the matter could be
hushed he would not impart it to the governor--at least, not until
Iberville had gone. Then they all started back towards the house. It
did not seem incongruous to Iberville and Gering to walk side by side;
theirs was a superior kind of hate. They paused outside the door, on
Morris's hint, that he might see if the coast was clear, and return the
swords to their place on the wall.
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