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"What do you mean?"
General Macarthur said gravely:
"None of us are going to leave the island. That's the plan. You know it, of course, perfectly. What, perhaps, you can't understand is the relief!"Vera said wonderingly:
"The relief?"
He said:
"Yes. Of course, you're very young... you haven't got to that yet. But it does come! The blessed relief when you know that you've done with it all - that you haven't got to carry the burden any longer. You'll feel that too some day..."Vera said hoarsely:
"I don't understand you."
Her fingers worked spasmodically. She felt suddenly afraid of this quiet old soldier.He said musingly:
"You see, I loved Leslie. I loved her very much..."Vera said questioningly:
"Was Leslie your wife?"
"Yes, my wife... I loved her - and I was very proud of her. She was so pretty - and so gay."He was silent for a minute or two, then he said:"Yes, I loved Leslie. That's why I did it."Vera said:
"You mean -" and paused.
General Macarthur nodded his head gently."It's not much good denying it now - not when we're all going to die. I sent Richmond to his death. I suppose, in a way, it was murder. Curious. Murder - and I've always been such a law-abiding man! But it didn't seem like that at the time. I had no regrets. 'Serves him damned well right!' - that's what I thought. But afterwards -"In a hard voice, Vera said:
"Well, afterwards?"
He shook his head vaguely. He looked puzzled and a little distressed."I don't know. I - don't know. It was all different, you see. I don't know if Leslie ever guessed... I don't think so. But you see, I didn't know about her any more. She'd gone far away where I couldn't reach her. And then she died - and I was alone..."Vera said:
"Alone - alone -" and the echo of her voice came back to her from the rocks.General Macarthur said:
"You'll be glad, too, when the end comes."Vera got up. She said sharply:
"I don't know what you mean!"He said:
"I know, my child, I know...""You don't. You don't understand at all..."General Macarthur looked out to sea again. He seemed unconscious of her presence behind him.He said very gently and softly:
"Leslie...?"
V
When Blore returned from the house with a rope coiled over his arm, he found Armstrong where he had left him staring down into the depths.Blore said breathlessly:
"Where's Mr. Lombard?"
Armstrong said carelessly:
"Gone to test some theory or other. He'll be back in a minute. Look here, Blore, I'm worried.""I should say we were all worried."The doctor waved an impatient hand.
"Of course - of course. I don't mean it that way. I'm thinking of old Macarthur.""What about him, sir?"
Dr. Armstrong said grimly:
"What we're looking for is a madman. What price Macarthur?"Blore said incredulously:
