Book-bot.com - read famous books online for free

In Kedar's Tents by Henry Seton Merriman
page 112 of 309 (36%)
you have worsted that unfortunate Alcalde--be merciful to him now,
and let this incident finish.'

He drew forward a chair, the others being seated, and laid aside his
gloves. The sword which he held upright between his knees, with his
two hands resting on the hilt, looked incongruously large and
reached the level of his eyes. He gave a little chuckling laugh.

'I saw him last night at the Cafe Real--the poor man had the air of
a funeral, and took his wine as if it were sour. Ah! these
civilians, they amuse one--they take life so seriously.'

He laughed and looked round at those assembled as if inviting them
to join him in a gayer and easier view of existence. The Padre's
furrowed face answered the summons in a sudden smile, but it was
with grave eyes that he looked searchingly at the most powerful man
in Andalusia; for General Vincente's word was law south of the
Tagus.

The two men sat side by side in strong contrast. Fate indeed seems
to shake men together in a bag, and cast them out upon the world
heedless where they may fall; for here was a soldier in the priest's
habit, and one carrying a sword who had the keen heart and sure
sympathy for joy or sorrow that should ever be found within a black
coat if the Master's work is to be well done.

General Vincente smiled at Estella with sang-froid and an unruffled
good nature, while the Padre Concha, whose place it surely was to
take the lead in such woman's work as this, slowly rubbed his bony
hands together, at a loss and incompetent to meet the urgency of the
DigitalOcean Referral Badge