Charles Rex

  CHAPTER V

  DISCIPLINE

  The storm spent itself before they reached Gibraltar, and Toby emergedsmiling from his captivity below. He still wore the brown and goldhotel-livery as there was nothing else on board to fit him, but fromGibraltar a small packet of notes was dispatched to Antonio by Saltash insettlement of the loan.

  "Now I've bought you--body and soul," he said to Toby, whose shining lookshowed naught but satisfaction at the announcement.

  The vivid colours of his injured eye had faded to a uniform dull yellow,and he no longer wore a bandage. When they put to sea again he was nolonger an invalid. He followed Saltash wherever he went, attendedscrupulously to his comfort, and when not needed was content to sitcurled up like a dog close to him, dumb in his devotion but always readyto serve him.

  Saltash treated him with a careless generosity that veiled a good deal ofconsideration. He never questioned him with regard to his past, takinghim for granted in a fashion that set Toby completely at ease. No oneelse had much to do with him. Larpent ignored him, and Murray the stewardregarded him with a deep suspicion that did not make for intimacy.

  And Toby was happy. Day after day his cheery whistle arose over his workwhile he polished Saltash's boots and brushed his clothes, or swept anddusted the state-cabin in which he slept. He himself had returned to hisown small den that led out of Saltash's dressing-room, but theintervening doors were kept open by Saltash's command. They were alwayswithin hail of each other.

  They went into perfect summer weather, and for a blissful week theyvoyaged through blue seas with a cloudless sky overhead. Toby's whiteskin began to tan. The sharp lines went out of his face. His laugh wasfrequent and wholly care-free. He even developed a certain impudence inhis attitude towards his master to which Saltash extended the sametolerance that he might have shown for the frolics of a favourite dog. Heaccepted Toby's services, but he never treated him wholly as a servant.

  It was an odd companionship which only the isolated life they led duringthose few days could have developed along those particular lines. WhenSaltash was bored he amused himself with his protege, teaching himpicquet and chess, and finding in him an apt and eager pupil. There was agood deal of the gambler's spirit in Toby, and Saltash idly fostered itbecause it gave him sport. He laughed at his opponent's keenness,supplied stakes for the game, even good-naturedly let himself be beaten.

  And then one day he detected Toby cheating. It was an end that he mighthave foreseen. He had encouraged the fever, he had practically sown theseeds; but, strangely, he was amazed, more disconcerted than he had beenfor years by the consequences. For it was not his way to disturb himselfover anything. His principles were easy to laxness. But that Toby--theurchin he had sheltered and nursed like a sick puppy--should have donethis thing somehow cut clean through his complacence.

  "I'm going to give you a licking for that," he said, black brows drawn toa stern line. "You can go below and wait for it."

  Toby went like an arrow, and Saltash spent the next half-hour pacing thedeck, cursing himself, the youngster, and the insane and ridiculous Fatethat had linked them together.

  Then he went below to administer judicial corporal punishment to a humanbeing for the first time in his life. As he himself whimsically expressedit, he had received ample correction during his own chequered career; buthe had never been in a position to correct anyone else.

  He found Toby waiting for him in his shirt-sleeves, rather white butquite composed, his riding-switch all ready to his hand.

  "Ever been flogged before?" he asked him curtly as he picked it up.

  "No, sir," said Toby, with downcast eyes.

  "Why not?" There was a gibing note in Saltash's voice. "Never qualifiedbefore?"

  Toby shot him a swift and nervous glance that was like a flash of blueflame. "No, sir. Never been caught before," he said.

  Saltash's eyes flickered humour, but he steeled himself. "Well, you'recaught this time--fairly caught. I may not be a specially fit person topunish you for it, but you won't be let off on that account."

  "Go ahead, sir!" said Toby, with his hands twisted into a bony knot infront of him.

  And Saltash went ahead. His heart was not in the business, and as hesmote the narrow bent back it cried shame on him. Toby made no sound, butat the third stroke he winced, and Saltash with a terrific oath in Frenchhurled his switch violently at the opposite wall.

  "There! Don't do it again!" he said, and swung him round to face him."Sorry? What?"

  Then he saw that Toby was crying, and abruptly let him go, striding outthrough the dining-saloon and up the companion-way, swearing strangeoaths in varied languages as he went.

  He was openly rude to Larpent when the latter sauntered up for a wordwith him a little later, but Larpent, knowing him, merely hunched hisshoulders as his custom was and sauntered away again.

  When Saltash went down to dress for dinner, he found his clothes laid outas usual, but no Toby in attendance. His first impulse was to look forhim, but he checked it and dressed in solitude. This thing must beconducted in the approved judicial manner at all costs.

  Larpent was stolidly awaiting him in the saloon, and they sat downtogether. Usually Toby stood behind his master's chair, and the vacantplace oppressed Saltash. He talked jerkily, with uneasy intervals ofsilence.

  Larpent talked not at all beyond the demands of ordinary courtesy. He atewell, drank sparingly, and when not listening to Saltash's somewhatspasmodic conversation appeared immersed in thought. When the meal wasover, he refused coffee, and rose to go on deck.

  Then, abruptly, Saltash stayed him. "Larpent, wait a minute--unlessyou're in a hurry! Have a cigar with me!"

  Larpent paused, looking across at the dark, restless face with the air ofa man making a minute calculation. "Shall we smoke on deck, my lord?" hesaid at length.

  Saltash sprang up as though he moved on wires. "Yes, all right. Get thecigars, Murray!" he commanded the steward; and to Larpent as the man wentto obey, "That's decent of you. Thought you were going to refuse. I wasdamned offensive a while back. Accept my apologies! Fact is--I'm fed upwith this show. Sorry if I disappoint you, but I'm going home."

  "You never disappoint me, my lord," said Larpent, with his enigmaticalsmile.

  Saltash gave him a keen look and uttered a laugh that was also notwithout its edge. "I like you, Larpent," he said. "You always tell thetruth. Well, let's go! We shan't make Jamaica this trip, but it doesn'tmatter. In any case, it's a shame to miss the spring in England."

  "Or the Spring Meetings?" suggested Larpent, as he chose his cigar.

  "Quite so," said Saltash, almost with relief. "My old trainer--the manwho bought my racing-stud--always looks for me about now. You ought tomeet him by the way. He is another speaker of cruel truths."

  He thrust a hand through his captain's arm as they left the saloon, andthey went on deck together. Though Larpent never made any sign ofresentment, yet was Saltash never wholly at his ease when he knew that hehad taxed his forbearance until he had made amends. He took the troubleto make himself unusually agreeable as they settled down to their smoke.

  It was a night of glorious stars, the sea one vast stretch of silverripples, through which the yacht ran smoothly, leaving a wide white trailbehind her. Saltash lay in a deck-chair with his face to the sky, but hisattitude was utterly lacking in the solid repose that characterized hiscompanion. He smoked his cigar badly, with impatient pulls. When it washalf gone, he suddenly swore and flung it overboard.

  "Larpent," he said, breaking a silence, "if you were a damnedrotter--like me--what should you do with yourself?"

  Larpent turned his head and quietly surveyed him. "I shouldn't run a homefor waifs and strays," he said deliberately.

  Saltash made a sharp movement. "Then I suppose you'd leave 'em in thegutter to starve," he said, with suppressed vehemence.

  "No, I shouldn't. I'd pay someone else--someone who wasn't what youcalled yourself just now--to look after 'em." Larpent's voice waseminently
practical if somewhat devoid of sympathy. "Gutter-snipes aredamned quick to pick up--things they ought not," he observed dryly.

  Saltash stirred uncomfortably in his chair as though something prickedhim. "Think I'm a contaminating influence?" he said.

  Larpent shrugged his shoulders. "It's not for me to say. All diseases arenot catching--any more than they are incurable."

  "Ho!" Saltash laughed suddenly and rather bitterly. "Are yousuggesting--a cure?"

  Larpent turned his head back again and puffed a cloud of smoke upwards."There's a cure for most things," he observed.

  "Can the Ethiopian change his skin?" gibed Saltash.

  Larpent was silent for a space. Then: "A painful process no doubt!" hesaid. "But more wonderful things have happened."

  "Pshaw!" said Saltash.

  Nevertheless when Larpent rose a little later and bade him good-night, hereached up a couple of fingers in careless comradeship.

  "Good-night, old fellow! Thanks for putting up with me! Sure you don'twant to kick me?"

  "Not when you're kicking yourself," said Larpent with a grim hint ofhumour.

  He took the extended fingers and received a wiry handclasp that causedhim faint surprise. But then, he reflected as he went away, he had alwaysknown Saltash to be a queer devil, oddly balanced, curiously impulsive,strangely irresponsible, possessing through all a charm which seldomfailed to hold its own. He realized by instinct that Saltash waswrestling with himself that night, but, though he knew him better thandid many, he would not have staked anything on the result. There were twoselves in Saltash and, in Larpent's opinion, one was as strong as theother.

  It was nearly an hour later that Saltash, prowling to and fro in thestarlight, became suddenly aware of a figure, small and slight, withgleaming brass buttons, standing behind his vacant chair. He turnedsharply to look at it, some inexplicable emotion twitching his dark face.Then abruptly he moved towards it, stood for a second as one in doubt,then turned and sat down in silence.

  But as he settled himself he stretched forth an arm with a snap of thefingers, and in a flash Toby was kneeling by his side. The arm closedaround him like a spring, and Toby uttered a low, tense sob and hid hisface.

  Thereafter for a while there was no sound beside the throb of engines andwash of water. Saltash sat absolutely motionless with eyes half-closed.Save for the vitality of his hold, he might have been on the verge ofslumber. And Toby, crouched with his head in his hands, was as a carvenimage, neither stirring nor seeming to breathe.

  The man moved at length, flicking his eyes open as though some unseenforce had prodded him into action. He spoke with a brevity that mighthave denoted some sternness but for the close grip of his arm.

  "Have you been sulking all this time?"

  Toby started at his voice and burrowed a little deeper. "No, sir."

  "Well, why didn't you come before?" said Saltash.

  "I was--afraid," whispered Toby piteously.

  "Afraid! Why on earth?" Saltash's hand suddenly found and fondledthe fair head. His speech was no longer curt, but gentle, with ahalf-quizzical tenderness. "Aren't you rather an ass, boy? What wasthere to be afraid of?"

  Toby could not tell him. He only, after a moment, slipped down in asitting position by Saltash's side and rested with more assurance againstthe encircling arm.

  "Come! I didn't hurt you much," said Saltash.

  "No, sir. You didn't hurt me--at all." Toby stammered a little."You--you--you meant--not to hurt me, didn't you?"

  "I must hit harder next time evidently," observed Saltash, with a squeezeof the narrow shoulders.

  "No, sir--no, sir! There shan't be--a next time!" Toby assured him withnervous vehemence. "I only did it just to see--just to see--I'll never doit again, sir."

  "Just to see what?" asked Saltash curiously.

  But again Toby could not explain himself, and he did not press him.

  "Well, you didn't do it at all well," he remarked. "I shouldn't certainlymake a profession of it if I were you. It's plainly not your _metier_."

  He paused, but with the air of having something more to say. Toby waitedsilently.

  It came with a jerk and a grimace, as if some inner force compelled. "Ican't talk pi-jaw--on this subject or any other. You see--I'm a rottermyself."

  "You, sir!" Toby lifted his head suddenly and stared at him with eyesthat blazed passionately blue in the starlight. "Don't believe it!" hesaid. "It isn't true."

  Saltash grinned a little. His face had the dreary look of something lostthat a monkey's sometimes wears. "You needn't believe it, son, if youdon't want to," he said. "But it's true all the same. That's why I gaveyou that licking, see? Just to emphasize the difference between us."

  "It isn't true!" Toby asserted again almost fiercely. "I'd kill anyoneelse that said so."

  "Oh, you needn't do that!" said Saltash, with kindly derision. "Thanksall the same, my turkey-cock! If I ever need your protection I'll be sureto ask for it." He flicked the young face with his finger. "But you'renot to follow my example, mind. You've got to run straight. You're youngenough to make it worth while, and--I'll see you have a chance."

  "But you'll keep me with you, sir," said Toby swiftly. "You'll keepme--always--with you!"

  "Ah!" Saltash's brows twisted oddly for a second. He seemed to ponder thematter. "I can't say off-hand what I'm going to do with you," he said."You're--a bit of a problem, you know, Toby."

  "Yes, sir. I know. I know." Toby's voice was quick with agitation. "Butyou won't send me away from you! Promise you won't send me away!"

  "Can't promise anything," said Saltash. "Look here! I think there's beenenough of this. You'd better go to bed."

  But Toby was clinging fast to his hand. He spoke between quivering lips."Please, sir, you said you'd bought me body and soul. You can't mean tochuck me away--after that! Please, sir, I'll do anything--anything underthe sun--for you. And you--you can kick me--do anything to me--and I'llnever say a word. I'm just yours--for as long as I live. Please,sir--please, sir--don't send me away! I--I'd rather die than that."

  He laid his head suddenly down upon the hand he held so tenaciously andbegan to sob, fighting desperately to stifle all sound.

  Saltash sat for a few moments in utter silence and immobility. Then,abruptly, in a tense whisper, he spoke:

  "Toby, you little fool, stop it--stop it, do you hear?--and go below!"

  The words held a queer urgency. He raised himself as he uttered them,seeking to free his hand though with all gentleness from the clingingclasp.

  "Get up, boy!" he said. "Get up and go to bed! What? Oh, don't cry! Pullyourself together! Toby, do you hear?"

  Toby lifted a white, strained face. His eyes looked enormous in the dimlight. "Yes, sir. All right, sir," he jerked out, and stumbled tremblingto his feet. "I know I'm a fool, sir. I'm sorry. I can't help it. No onewas ever decent to me--till you came. I--shall just go under now, sir."

  "Oh, stop it!" Saltash spoke almost violently. "Can't you see--that'sjust what I want to prevent? You don't want to go to the devil, Isuppose?"

  Toby made a passionate gesture that was curiously unboylike. "I'd go tohell and stay there for ever--if you were there!" he said.

  "Good God!" said Saltash.

  He got up in his sudden fashion and moved away, went to the rail andstood there for a space with his face to the rippling sheen of water.Finally he turned and looked at the silent figure waiting beside hischair, and a very strange smile came over his dark features. He cameback, not without a certain arrogance, and tapped Toby on the shoulder.

  "All right," he said. "Stay with me and be damned if you want to! Idaresay it would come to the same thing in the end."

  Toby drew himself together with a swift movement. "That means you'll keepme, sir?"

  His eyes, alight and eager, looked up to Saltash with something that wasnot far removed from adoration in their shining earnestness.

  The strange smile still hovered about Saltash's face; a smile in whichcynicism and some v
agrant, half-stifled emotion were oddly mingled.

  "Yes, I'll keep you," he said, and paused, looking at him oddly.

  Toby's eyes, very wide open, intensely bright, looked straight back. "Forgood, sir?" he said anxiously.

  And Saltash laughed, a brief, mocking laugh. "For better, for worse, myToby!" he said. "Now--go!"

  He smote him a light friendly blow on the shoulder and flung round on hisheel.

  Toby went, very swiftly, without looking back.