按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃I don't understand；〃 Sheldon said simply。
〃Then it is because you don't wish to understand。〃
〃Still I don't understand；〃 Sheldon said in steady； level tones。 〃All that
is clear to me is that you are exaggerating your own blunder into
something serious。〃
Tudor grinned maliciously and replied； …
〃It would seem that you are doing the exaggerating； inviting me to
186
… Page 187…
ADVENTURE
leave in your whale…boat。 It is telling me that Berande is not big enough
for the pair of us。 Now let me tell you that the Solomon Islands is not big
enough for the pair of us。 This thing's got to be settled between us； and it
may as well be settled right here and now。〃
〃I can understand your fire…eating manners as being natural to you；〃
Sheldon went on wearily； 〃but why you should try them on me is what I
can't comprehend。 You surely don't want to quarrel with me。〃
〃I certainly do。〃
〃But what in heaven's name for？〃
Tudor surveyed him with withering disgust。
〃You haven't the soul of a louse。 I suppose any man could make love
to your wife〃
〃But I have no wife；〃 Sheldon interrupted。
〃Then you ought to have。 The situation is outrageous。 You might at
least marry her； as I am honourably willing to do。〃
For the first time Sheldon's rising anger boiled over。
〃You〃 he began violently； then abruptly caught control of himself
and went on soothingly； 〃you'd better take a drink and think it over。
That's my advice to you。 Of course； when you do get cool； after talking
to me in this fashion you won't want to stay on any longer； so while you're
getting that drink I'll call the boat's… crew and launch a boat。 You'll be in
Tulagi by eight this evening。〃
He turned toward the door； as if to put his words into execution； but
the other caught him by the shoulder and twirled him around。
〃Look here； Sheldon； I told you the Solomons were too small for the
pair of us； and I meant it。〃
〃Is that an offer to buy Berande； lock； stock； and barrel？〃 Sheldon
queried。
〃No； it isn't。 It's an invitation to fight。〃
〃But what the devil do you want to fight with me for？〃 Sheldon's
irritation was growing at the other's persistence。 〃I've no quarrel with
you。 And what quarrel can you have with me？ I have never interfered
with you。 You were my guest。 Miss Lackland is my partner。 If you
saw fit to make love to her； and somehow failed to succeed； why should
187
… Page 188…
ADVENTURE
you want to fight with me？ This is the twentieth century； my dear fellow；
and duelling went out of fashion before you and I were born。〃
〃You began the row；〃 Tudor doggedly asserted。 〃You gave me to
understand that it was time for me to go。 You fired me out of your house；
in short。 And then you have the cheek to want to know why I am starting
the row。 It won't do； I tell you。 You started it； and I am going to see it
through。〃
Sheldon smiled tolerantly and proceeded to light a cigarette。 But
Tudor was not to be turned aside。
〃You started this row；〃 he urged。
〃There isn't any row。 It takes two to make a row； and I； for one；
refuse to have anything to do with such tomfoolery。〃
〃You started it； I say； and I'll tell you why you started it。〃
〃I fancy you've been drinking；〃 Sheldon interposed。 〃It's the only
explanation I can find for your unreasonableness。〃
〃And I'll tell you why you started it。 It wasn't silliness on your part to
exaggerate this little trifle of love…making into something serious。 I was
poaching on your preserves； and you wanted to get rid of me。 It was all
very nice and snug here； you and the girl； until I came along。 And now
you're jealousthat's it； jealousy and want me out of it。 But I won't go。〃
〃Then stay on by all means。 I won't quarrel with you about it。 Make
yourself comfortable。 Stay for a year； if you wish。〃
〃She's not your wife；〃 Tudor continued； as though the other had not
spoken。 〃A fellow has the right to make love to her unless she's your
well； perhaps it was an error after all； due to ignorance； perfectly
excusable； on my part。 I might have seen it with half an eye if I'd
listened to the gossip on the beach。 All Guvutu and Tulagi were laughing
about it。 I was a fool； and I certainly made the mistake of taking the
situation on its assumed innocent face… value。〃
So angry was Sheldon becoming that the face and form of the other
seemed to vibrate and oscillate before his eyes。 Yet outwardly Sheldon
was calm and apparently weary of the discussion。
〃Please keep her out of the conversation；〃 he said。
〃But why should I？〃 was the demand。 〃The pair of you trapped me
188
… Page 189…
ADVENTURE
into making a fool of myself。 How was I to know that everything was
not all right？ You and she acted as if everything were on the square。
But my eyes are open now。 Why； she played the outraged wife to
perfection； slapped the transgressor and fled to you。 Pretty good proof of
what all the beach has been saying。 Partners； eh？a business partnership？
Gammon my eye； that's what it is。〃
Then it was that Sheldon struck out； coolly and deliberately； with all
the strength of his arm； and Tudor； caught on the jaw； fell sideways；
crumpling as he did so and crushing a chair to kindling wood beneath the
weight of his falling body。 He pulled himself slowly to his feet； but did
not offer to rush。
〃Now will you fight？〃 Tudor said grimly。
Sheldon laughed； and for the first time with true spontaneity。 The
intrinsic ridiculousness of the situation was too much for his sense of
humour。 He made as if to repeat the blow； but Tudor； white of face； with
arms hanging resistlessly at his sides； offered no defence。
〃I don't mean a fight with fists；〃 he said slowly。 〃I mean to a f