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.''Aye.' Robert held the door for them.'We'll not wait for the monsieur's gear, Philip.It can follow in the wagon.'Louis sat himself beside Georgiana; he still held her hand, and he squeezed it continually, as if to reassure himself that it was flesh and blood.‘You do not sound convinced.Are all my guests not arrived?'"They come every day,' Georgiana said.'Kingston's hotels are so filled with French chatter you'd think we were conquered.''And others,' Robert grumbled, sitting opposite them, beside the priest, and resting his hands on his knees.'Dirk Huys arrived yesterday.''And that does not please you?' Corbeau inquired.'Surely it can only mean he has decided to let bygones be bygones.'Georgiana burst into a ripple of laughter.‘I can hardly wait.''You've not seen him?' ''We exchanged a glass,' Robert said.'He was stiff, but not unfriendly.He knows I have the same opinions about.well, about everything.He has no idea of the ordeal to which he is going to be exposed.''You'll explain?''Why, this.' he seemed to change his mind about the word he would have chosen.'Foolish sister of mine will have no one but Sue as her maid of honour.How can she apply the word?''I do not,' Georgiana said.'She will be my matron of honour.''Then she is in Jamaica?' Corbeau inquired.'You'll not have heard?'Corbeau shrugged.'Rumours.But the world is full of rumours, and I have neither the time nor the inclination to listen, much less believe.''Aye.' Robert stared out of the window as the carriage rumbled along the road.'But there is generally a fire beneath the smoke.Sue is living in Kingston, sharing a shack with her paramour and a detestable fellow called Coke.But a month gone she was delivered of a second child.''Sue, twice a mother?' He wondered what difference childbearing would have made to that magnificent body, that remarkable personality.Ah, well, he supposed, like poor Rose Tascher, he must now relegate Sue Hilton to the realms of what might have been.'By Matt?''Who else?''And will he also be attending the wedding?' 'I'd not allow him in the drive.''Oh, really, Robert,' Georgiana said.'I'm afraid you will have to change your mind.Louis, you will have to make him change his mind.''I really do not understand what it is all about.''Why, simply that Sue has written to me refusing to attend my wedding unless Matt is also invited.So naturally I have decided to forget our quarrel for the time being.But I would have done so anyway, I think, had I thought of it.Weddings are not a time for quarrelling, with anyone.I am so happy, Louis.So happy.' She pinched his arm; he could feel it turning black and blue.'Ah, but I see the predicament,' he observed.'Robert wonders what Dirk's reaction will be.''Indeed I do,' Robert agreed.'But that is the very least of the matter.You have not heard what that young fool is about now?''Rumours.''Which have not sufficiently interested you.But he will have nothing less than a revolution.' 'Sir?''Oh, that is a fact.He preaches freedom for the niggers, damnation to the plantocracy, abolition and amelioration.You name it, he says it in public.He has built himself a church.What do you think of that, Father?''Be sure God will be avenged on those who take his name in vain.''Oh, well said sir.There is a good point.'Georgiana giggled.'He has been trying, hard enough.Robert burned it down.''So he built himself another,' Robert declared.Georgiana was still laughing.'So Robert sent two men to burn that down as well.''And did they succeed?' Corbeau asked.Georgiana's laughter became a shriek of pleasure.'Matt was waiting for them.One is still in bed, with a broken jaw.''By God,' Robert said.'By God.''And do you know what makes the whole situation so absurd?' Georgiana said.'This church, and the first one, were built with Robert's money.He sends Sue money every month.''You'd not have me allow my own sister, your own sister, to starve?'It was Corbeau's turn to burst into laughter.'By Christ, Robert, but beneath that flint-like exterior I do believe you are a perfect mound of kindness.Now come, admit it, you admire Matt, for his principles, even if they differ from your own.And you admire Sue, for her support of him.''Ha,' Robert said.'No doubt I also admire the fortitude with which a scorpion rears on its hind legs to strike a man, knowing that with the very movement it must die.Yet would I, being the man, step on the insect without hesitation.''You admire him,' Corbeau repeated.'And you will forgive him without hesitation once he comes to his senses.As he surely will.He is but a young man of passion, given to following wild dreams and fancies.But as he grows older he will stop dreaming, and become once again a Hilton.''Never,' Robert growled.'Never.It is too late for him, now.He has gone too far.You've not heard the end of it, Corbeau.'"There is more? You'll be telling me next he has committed some crime.I beg your pardon, Father, I meant some legal crime.'Once again Georgiana gave a peal of laughter.'He may as well have done so.He is bringing a planter to court.For mistreating a black.Can you believe it?'Corbeau frowned at her.'That he would wish to do so, possibly.That it would be practical, no.How may one ill-treat a slave, legally? Is not the act of enslavement sufficient proof of omnipotent power?''You begin to talk like him,' Robert said.'Or like the frog-gie you are.We English lack such uncompromising attitudes.It so happens that with the Americans so successfully asserting their determination to be, as they call it, free men, public opinion in England has taken fright.You must be aware of that.And public opinion in England is mirrored by governmental opinion.So now we have laws, to safeguard the slaves [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]