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for wanderers。' And I ain't forgettin' yer ginerel soft style and easy gait
with me when you kem here。 It ain't every man as could walk into
another man's house arter the owner of it had grabbed a gun； ez soft…
speakin'； ez overlookin'； and ez perlite ez you。 I've acted mighty rough
and low…down； and I know it。 And I sent for you to say that you and your
folks kin use this house and all that's in it ez long ez you're in trouble。
I've told you why I couldn't sell the house to ye； and why I couldn't leave
it。 But ye kin use it； and while ye're here； and when you go； Collinson
don't tell nobody。 I don't know what ye mean by 'binding myself' to keep
your secret； when Collinson says a thing he sticks to it； and when he
passes his word with a man； or a man passes his word with him； it don't
need no bit of paper。〃
There was no doubt of its truth。 In the grave； upraised eyes of his
prisoner； Chivers saw the certainty that he could trust him； even far more
than he could trust any one within the house he had just quitted。 But this
very certainty； for all its assurance of safety to himself； filled him； not with
remorse； which might have been an evanescent emotion； but with a sudden
alarming and terrible consciousness of being in the presence of a hitherto
unknown and immeasurable power！ He had no pity for man who trusted
him； he had no sense of shame in taking advantage of it； he even felt an
intellectual superiority in this want of sagacity in his dupe； but he still felt
in some way defeated； insulted； shocked； and frightened。 At first； like all
scoundrels； he had measured the man by himself； was suspicious and
prepared for rivalry； but the grave truthfulness of Collinson's eyes left him
helpless。 He was terrified by this unknown factor。 The right that
contends and fights often stimulates its adversary； the right that yields
leaves the victor vanquished。 Chivers could even have killed Collinson
in his vague discomfiture； but he had a terrible consciousness that there
was something behind him that he could not make way with。 That was
why this accomplished rascal felt his flaccid cheeks grow purple and his
glib tongue trip before his captive。
But Collinson； more occupied with his own shortcomings； took no
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IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
note of this； and Chivers quickly recovered his wits； if not his former
artificiality。 〃All right；〃 he said quickly； with a hurried glance at the door
behind him。 〃Now that you think better of it； I'll be frank with you； and
tell you I'm your friend。 You understand；your friend。 Don't talk much
to those mendon't give yourself away to them；〃 he laughed this time in
absolute natural embarrassment。 〃Don't talk about your wife； and this
house； but just say you've made the thing up with me；with ME； you
know； and I'll see you through。〃 An idea； as yet vague； that he could turn
Collinson's unexpected docility to his own purposes； possessed him even
in his embarrassment； and he was still more strangely conscious of his
inordinate vanity gathering a fearful joy from Collinson's evident
admiration。 It was heightened by his captive's next words。
〃Ef I wasn't tied I'd shake hands with ye on that。 You're the kind o'
man； Mr。 Chivers； that I cottoned to from the first。 Ef this house wasn't
HERS； I'd a' bin tempted to cotton to yer offer； too； and mebbee made yer
one myself； for it seems to me your style and mine would sorter jibe
together。 But I see you sabe what's in my mind； and make allowance。
WE don't want no bit o' paper to shake hands on that。 Your secret and
your folk's secret is mine； and I don't blab that any more than I'd blab to
them wot you've just told me。〃
Under a sudden impulse； Chivers leaned forward； and； albeit with
somewhat unsteady hands and an embarrassed will； untied the cords that
held Collinson in his chair。 As the freed man stretched himself to his full
height； he looked gravely down into the bleared eyes of his captor； and
held out his strong right hand。 Chivers took it。 Whether there was
some occult power in Collinson's honest grasp； I know not； but there
sprang up in Chivers's agile mind the idea that a good way to get rid of
Mrs。 Collinson was to put her in the way of her husband's finding her； and
for an instant； in the contemplation of that idea； this supreme rascal
absolutely felt an embarrassing glow of virtue。
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IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
CHAPTERVI。
The astonishment of Preble Key on recognizing the gateway into
which the mysterious lady had vanished was so great that he was at first
inclined to believe her entry THERE a mere trick of his fancy。 That the
confederate of a gang of robbers should be admitted to the austere recesses
of the convent； with a celerity that bespoke familiarity； was incredible。
He again glanced up and down the length of the shadowed but still visible
wall。 There was no one there。 The wall itself contained no break or
recess in which one could hide； and this was the only gateway。 The
opposite side of the street in the full moonlight stared emptily。 No！
Unless she were an illusion herself and his whole chase a dream； she
MUST have entered here。
But the chase was not hopeless。 He had at least tracked her to a place
where she could be identified。 It was not a hotel； which she could leave
at any moment unobserved。 Though he could not follow her and
penetrate its seclusion now； he could laterthanks to his old associations
with the padres of the contiguous collegegain an introduction to the Lady
Superior on some pretext。 She was safe there that night。 He turned
away with a feeling of relief。 The incongruity of her retreat assumed a
more favorable aspect to his hopes。 He loo