I'll call in again later on。 Let's have one more look at you；
young man。〃
He glanced at the cut on Gerald's forehead； noted the access of
colour in his cheeks； and nodded。
〃Born to be hanged； you were；〃 he pronounced。 〃You've had a
marvellous escape。 I'll be in again presently。 No need to worry
about your friend。 He looks as though he'd got a mighty constitution。
Light my lantern； Brown。 Two of you had better come with me to the
shed。 It's no night for a man to be wandering about alone。〃
He departed； and many of the villagers with him。 The landlady sat
down and began to weep。
〃Such a night！ Such a night！〃 she exclaimed； wringing her hands。
〃And there's the doctor talks about putting the poor gentleman to
bed！ Why； the roof's off the back part of the house； and not a
bedroom in the place but mine and John's； and the rain coming in
there in torrents。 Such a night！ It's the judgment of the Lord
upon us！ That's what it is … the judgment of the Lord！〃
〃Judgment of the fiddlesticks！〃 her husband growled。 〃Can't you
light the fire； woman？ What's the good of sitting there whining？〃
〃Light the fire；〃 she repeated bitterly； 〃and the chimney lying out
in the road！ Do you want to suffocate us all； or is the beer still
in your head？ It's your evil doings； Richard Budden； and others
like you； that have brought this upon us。 If Mr。 Wembley would
but come in and pray！〃
Her husband scoffed。 He was dressed only in his shirt and trousers；
his hair rough； his braces hanging down behind。
〃Come in and pray！〃 he repeated。 〃Not he！ Not Mr。 Wembley！ He's
safe tucked up in his bed； shivering with fear； I'll bet you。 He's
not getting his feet wet to save a body or lend a hand here。 Souls
are his job。 You let the preacher alone； mother； and tell us what
we're going to do with this gentleman。〃
〃The Lord only knows！〃 she cried； wringing her hands。
〃Can I hire a motor…car from anywhere near？〃 Gerald asked。
〃There's motor…cars； right enough；〃 the innkeeper replied； 〃but not
many as would be fools enough to take one out。 You couldn't see
the road； and I doubt if one of them plaguey things would stir in
this storm。〃
〃Such nonsense as you talk； Richard Budden！〃 his wife exclaimed
sharply。 〃It's twenty minutes past three of the clock； and there's
light coming on us fast。 If so be as the young gentleman knows
folks round about here； or happens to live nigh； why shouldn't he
take one of them motor…cars and get away to some decent place？
It'll be better for the poor gentleman than lying here in a house
smitten by the Lord。〃
Gerald rose stiffly to his feet。 An idea was forming in his brain。
His eyes were bright。 He looked at the body of John Dunster upon
the floor； and felt once more in his pocket。
〃How far off is the garage？〃 he asked。
〃It's right across the way；〃 the innkeeper replied； a speculation
of Neighbour Martin's； and a foolish one it do seem to me。 He's two
cars there； and one he lets to the Government for delivering the
mails。〃
Gerald felt in his pocket and produced a sovereign。
〃Give this；〃 he said； 〃to any man you can find who will go across
there and bring me a car … the most powerful they've got； if there's
any difference。 Tell them I'll pay well。 This … my friend will be
much better at home with me than in a strange place when he comes
to his senses。〃
〃It's sound common sense；〃 the woman declared。 〃Be off with you；
Richard。〃
The man was looking at the coin covetously； but his wife pushed him
away。
〃It's not a sovereign you'll be taking from the gentleman for a
little errand like that；〃 she insisted sharply。 〃He shall pay us
for what he's had when he goes； and welcome； and if so be that he's
willing to make it a sovereign； to include the milk and the brandy
and the confusion we've been put to this night； well and good。 It's
a heavy reckoning； maybe； but the night calls for it。 We'll see
about that afterwards。 Get along with you； I say； Richard。〃
〃I'll be wet through；〃 the man muttered。
〃And serve you right！〃 the woman exclaimed。 〃If there's a man in
this village to…night whose clothes are dry； it's a thing for him
to be ashamed of。〃
The innkeeper reluctantly departed。 They heard the roar of the
wind as the door was opened and closed。 The woman poured out another
glass of milk and brought it to Gerald。
〃A godless man； mine；〃 she said grimly。 〃If so happen as Mr。 Wembley
had come to these parts years ago； I'd have seen myself in my grave
before I'd have married a publican。 But it's too late now。 We're
mostly too late about the things that count in this world。 So it's
your friend that's been stricken down； young man。 A well…living man；
I hope？〃
Gerald shivered ever so slightly。 He drank the milk； however。 He
felt that he might need his strength。
〃What train might you have been on the woman continued。 〃There's
none due on this line that we knew of。 David Bass； the
station…master； was here but two hours ago and said he'd finished
for the night； and praised the Lord for that。 The goods trains
had all been stopped at Ipswich； and the first passenger train was
not due till six o'clock。〃
Gerald shook his head with an affectation of weariness。
〃I don't know；〃 he replied。 〃I don't remember anything about it。
We were hours late； I think。〃
The woman was looking down at the unconscious man。 Gerald rose
slowly to his feet and stood by her side。 The face of Mr。 John P。
Dunster； even in unconsciousness； had something in it of strength
and purpose。 The shape of his head； the squareness of his jaws；
the straightness of his thick lips； all seemed to speak of a hard
and inflexible disposition。 His hair was coal black； coarse； and
without the slightest sprinkling of grey。 He had the neck and
throat of a fighter。 But for that single； livid； blue mark across
his forehead； he carried with him no signs of his accident。 He was
a little inclined to be stout。 There was a heavy gold chain
stretched across his waist…coat。 From where he lay； the shining
handle of his revolver protruded from his hip； pocket。
〃Sakes alive！。〃 the woman muttered； as she looked down。 〃What does
he carry a thing like that for … in a peaceful country； too！〃
〃It was just an idea of his；〃 Gerald answered。 〃We were going
abroad in a day or two。 He was always nervous。 If you like； I'll
take it away。〃
He stooped down and withdrew it from the unconscious man's pocket。
He started as he discovered that it was loaded in every chamber。
〃I can't bear the sight of them things；〃 the woman declared。 〃It's
the men of evil ways； who've no trust in the Lord； who need that
sort of protection。〃
They heard the door pushed open； the howl of wind down the passage；
and the beating of rain upon the stone flags。 Then it was softly
closed again。 The landlord staggered into the room； followed by a
young man。
〃This 'ere is Mr。 Martin's chaffer；〃 he announced。 〃You can tell
him what you want yerself。〃
Gerald turned almost eagerly towards the newcomer。
〃I want to go to the other side of Holt；〃 he said； 〃and get my
friend … get this gentleman away from here … get him home； if
possible。 Can you take me？〃
The chauffeur looked doubtful。
〃I'm afraid of the roads； sir；〃 he replied。 〃There's talk about
many bridges down； and trees； and there's floods out everywhere。
There's half a foot of water； even； across the village street now。
I'm afraid we shouldn't get very far。〃
〃Look here；〃 Gerald begged eagerly； 〃let's make a shot at it。 I'll
pay you double the hire of the car； and I'll be responsible for any
damage。 I want to get out of this beastly place。 Let's get
somewhere； at any rate； towards a civilised country。 I'll see you
don't lose anything。 I'll give you a five pound note for yourself
if we get as far as Holt。〃
〃I'm on；〃 the young man agreed shortly。 〃It's an open car； you know。〃
〃It doesn't matter；〃 Gerald replied。 〃I can stick it in front with
you； and we can cover … him up in the tonneau。〃
〃You'll wait until the doctor comes back？〃 the landlord asked。
〃And why should they？〃 his wife interposed sharply。 〃Them doctors
are all the same。 He'll try and keep the poor gentleman here for
the sake of a few extra guineas； and a miserable place for him to
open his eyes upon； even if the rest of the roof holds； which for
my part I'm beginning to doubt。 They'd have to move him from here
with the daylight； anyhow。 He can't lie in the bar parlour all day；
can he？〃
〃It don't seem right； somehow；〃 the man com plained doggedly。 〃The
doctor didn't say anything about having him moved。〃
〃You get the car；〃 Gerald ordered the young man。 〃I'll take the
whole responsibility。〃
The chauffeur silently left the room。 Gerald put a couple of
sovereigns upon the mantelpiece。
〃My friend is a man of somewhat peculiar temperament；〃 he said
quietly。 〃If he finds himself at home in a comfortable room when
he comes to his senses； I am quite sure that he will have a better
chance of recovery。 He cannot possibly be made comfortable here；
and he will feel the shock of what has happened all the more if he
finds himself still in the neighbourhood when he opens his eyes。
If there is any change in his condition； we can easily stop somewhere
on the way。〃
The woman pocketed the two sovereigns。
〃That's common sense； sir；〃 she agreed heartily； 〃and I'm sure we
are very much obliged to you。 If we had a decent room； and a roof
above it； you'd be heartily welcome； but as it is； this is no place
for a sick man； and those that say different don't know what they
are talking about。 That's a real careful young man who's going to
take you along in the motor…car。 He'll get you there safe； if any
one will。〃
〃What I say is；〃 her husband protested sullenly； 〃that we ought to
wait for the doctor's orders。 I'm against seeing a poor body like
that jolted across the country in an open motor…car； in his state。
I'm not sure that it's for his good。〃
〃And what business is it of yours； I should like to know？〃 the woman
demanded sharply。 〃You get up…stairs and begin moving the furniture
from where the rain s coming sopping in。 And if so be you can
rem