The Little Minister

“’Deed I did, and he rode awa’ saying I was a witch.”

The soldier heard with the delight of a schoolboy.

“Now if the sheriff does not liberate you at my request,” he said, “I will never let him hear the end of this story. He was right; you are a witch. You deceived the sheriff; yes, undoubtedly you are a witch.”

He looked at her with fun in his face, but the fun disappeared, and a wondering admiration took its place.

“By Jove!” he said, “I don’t wonder you bewitched the sheriff. I must take care or you will bewitch the captain, too.”

At this notion he smiled, but he also ceased looking at her. Suddenly the Egyptian again began to cry.

“You’re angry wi’ me,” she sobbed. “I wish I had never set een on you.”

“Why do you wish that?” Halliwell asked.

“Fine you ken,” she answered, and again covered her face with her hands.

He looked at her undecidedly.

“I am not angry with you,” he said, gently. “You are an extraordinary girl.”

Had he really made a conquest of this beautiful creature? Her words said so, but had he? The captain could not make up his mind. He gnawed his moustache in doubt.

There was silence, save for the Egyptian’s sobs. Halliwell’s heart was touched, and he drew nearer her.

“My poor girl – ”

He stopped. Was she crying? Was she not laughing at him rather? He became red.

The gypsy peeped at him between her fingers, and saw that he was of two minds. She let her hands fall from her face, and undoubtedly there were tears on her cheeks.

“If you’re no angry wi’ me,” she said, sadly, “how will you no look at me?”

“I am looking at you now.”

He was very close to her, and staring into her wonderful eyes. I am older than the Captain, and those eyes have dazzled me.

“Captain dear.”

She put her hand in his. His chest rose. He knew she was seeking to beguile him, but he could not take his eyes off hers. He was in a worse plight than a woman listening to the first whisper of love.

Now she was further from him, but the spell held. She reached the door, without taking her eyes from his face. For several seconds he had been as a man mesmerised.

Just in time he came to. It was when she turned from him to find the handle of the door. She was turning it when his hand fell on hers so suddenly that she screamed. He twisted her round.

“Sit down there,” he said hoarsely, pointing to the chair upon which he had flung his cloak. She dared not disobey. Then he leant against the door, his back to her, for just then he wanted no one to see his face. The gypsy sat very still and a little frightened.

Halliwell opened the door presently, and called to the soldier on duty below.

“Davidson, see if you can find the sheriff. I want him. And Davidson – ”

The captain paused.

“Yes,” he muttered, and the old soldier marvelled at his words, “it is better. Davidson, lock this door on the outside.”

Davidson did as he was ordered, and again the Egyptian was left alone with Halliwell.

“Afraid of a woman!” she said, contemptuously, though her heart sank when she heard the key turn in the lock.

“I admit it,” he answered, calmly.

He walked up and down the room, and she sat silently watching him.

“That story of yours about the sheriff was not true,” he said at last.

“I suspect it wasna,” answered the Egyptian coolly. “Hae you been thinking about it a’ this time? Captain, I could tell you what you’re thinking now. You’re wishing it had been true, so that the ane o’ you couldna lauch at the other.”

“Silence!” said the captain, and not another word would he speak until he heard the sheriff coming up the stair. The Egyptian trembled at his step, and rose in desperation.

“Why is the door locked?” cried the sheriff, shaking it.

“All right,” answered Halliwell; “the key is on your side.”

At that moment the Egyptian knocked the lamp off the table, and the room was at once in darkness. The officer sprang at her, and, catching her by the skirt, held on.

“Why are you in darkness?” asked the sheriff, as he entered.

“Shut the door,” cried Halliwell. “Put your back to it.”

“Don’t tell me the woman has escaped?”

“I have her, I have her! She capsized the lamp, the little jade. Shut the door.”

Still keeping firm hold of her, as he thought, the captain relit the lamp with his other hand. It showed an extraordinary scene. The door was shut, and the sheriff was guarding it. Halliwell was clutching the cloth of the bailie’s seat. There was no Egyptian.

A moment passed before either man found his tongue.

“Open the door. After her!” cried Halliwell.

But the door would not open. The Egyptian had fled and locked it behind her.

What the two men said to each other, it would not be fitting to tell. When Davidson, who had been gossiping at the corner of the town-house, released his captain and the sheriff, the gypsy had been gone for some minutes.

“But she shan’t escape us,” Riach cried, and hastened out to assist in the pursuit.

Halliwell was in such a furious temper that he called up Davidson and admonished him for neglect of duty.

Chapter Eight.