a last time he climbed to the floor above the apothecary shop. if only she wouldn't act up. a serious thing, this he had done. big belt felt that he had rushed matters, possibly treading upon a host of delicate and incomprehensible affairs. but, when he had found in colonel hartz a man to make action of his words, he had plunged....
peter was asleep. the woman came forward noiselessly, offering her hand. by her face he knew that all was well with the patient. boylan had stiffened to resist the pang of peter's passing from his life. this had so far prevented his voice from softening to the woman. it was now evening.
“i've done what seemed best,” he began abruptly in a whisper. “it appears to have accomplished what i set out after, but it's likely a ruffian's way—”
her gray eyes widened, her face blanched.
big belt cleared his throat. whispering was difficult.
“i met an old friend who made possible your remaining here. he's to send you into the country—as soon as the young fellow is able to be moved. you are to take care of him there. you see, my friend happened to be second in command here at sondreig, and he thinks he can make all concerned forget that you were picked up from the opposition in judenbach—”
“can make sondreig forget that?” she whispered.
“we are very old friends. we were out together in a former service—”
“and we are to be sent into the country—as soon as peter is able?”
“yes.”
“but what is the terrible part?”
“there might have been a better way, but i didn't think of it—”
“oh, what, mr. boylan?”
“i told him that you two were married—”
“yes.”
“i say, i told him that you two were married—”
“yes—and then?”
big belt backed from her, and sat down.
“there isn't any then,” he said. “that's it.... that you were married in warsaw, and followed him to the field—without his knowing.”
“is that all?”
“yes, ma'am.”
“oh, you frightened me.”
...boylan was on the stairs. he halted, turned back. she came to him eagerly.
“but were you married?” he asked.
“no. but it's such a little thing compared to what might have happened—to keep us apart. i mean what might have happened here.... oh, god bless you!”
he twisted his chin away from his collar, drew it clear with his hand, cleared his throat to speak, and vanished.
