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Walpole, Hugh, Sir, 1884-1941

"The Captives"

"
She looked up and saw Martin Warlock facing her. The unexpected
meeting held both of them silent for a moment. To her it seemed that
he had risen out of the very stones of the pavement, at her bidding,
to make her evening wonderful. He looked so strong, so square, so
solid after the phantom imaginations of the house that she had left,
that the sight of him was a step straight into the heart of comfort
and reassurance.
"I was just coming," he said, looking at her, "to leave a note for
Miss Cardinal--from my father--"
"She's in," Maggie said.
"Oh, it wasn't to bother her--only to leave the note. About some
meeting, I think."
"We're just going out. This is my uncle--Mr. Warlock."
The two men shook hands.
Mathew Cardinal smiled. His eyes closed, his greeting had an urgency
in it as though he had suddenly made some discovery that gratified
and amused him. "Very glad to meet you--very glad, indeed, sir. Any
friend of my niece's. I know your father, sir; know him and admire
him."
They all turned down the street together. Uncle Mathew talked, and
then, quite suddenly, stopping under a lamp-post as though within
the circle of light his charm were stronger, he said:
"I suppose, Mr.


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