SON OF THE WIND
commentary on his belief in miracles. It was a commentary also on his understanding of the science of cowards and of lies. It seemed to him he had been a mere child in Ferrier's hands, in superb security in himself, never reckoning how easy it would be for Ferrier to scamp the story. "Your husband did not tell me," he said, "if that is what Ferrier made you think. I knew before I saw Mr. Rader. What I got from him I got out of him without his knowing. I got it out of all of them. I got it out of Blanche in the same way; but I got it out of Ferrier in the first place. He was drunk, and part of that was my responsibility, but he knew what we were about well enough afterward. He didn't tell you he was paid for it? Naturally! Loyal to me? He hasn't been loyal to any one—she or you or me! Why he—" Carron saw wide pictures of memory—Ferrier bargaining him away from Raders' by promises of the horse; hailed out of his house trembling, reluctant to fulfil his promise—weeping by the trail that he had been seen there—seen! What use of repeating it all? The man was weaker than water. Mrs. Rader was eying him challengingly. "Then you don't deny you came here for the horse?"
"No—it's true enough."
"And now you have him?"
"Pardon me, how do you know that?"
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