IN THE SHADOW
appropriateness. Giles, receiving guests, intimate friends, conventional folk, at his father's door would have been less at his ease.
The tableau was greeted by an instant of involuntary silence. "Ach!" muttered Leyden, beneath his breath. "That is fine … that spectacle. I did not think that he had it in him, this negro." Like many men who spend much of their lives in solitude of thought, Leyden had the habit of audible self-communing when suddenly impressed. Virginia overheard him.
Then Dessalines did a graceful thing; a Gallic action. He threw out both great arms, the massive head went back.
"Welcome, mes amis," he called, in his deep voice. "Welcome to Japan!" He stepped quickly to the side of Lady Maltby. "My poor house is honored, chère madame."
"And your guests are delighted, Count Dessalines." She gave him her hand; he took it in his, bent over it, the thick lips brushed her fingers. Virginia, glancing with a gasp toward Lady Maltby, saw the faint quiver which passed over her face. The other women Dessalines greeted, each with a bow.
"Then we may dismiss the 'rikishas," he said, and nodded to the men, who laid down the shafts and disappeared. Dessalines turned to speak to Sir Henry, to Giles, then his eyes rolled and he chuckled as he greeted Leyden.
"Oh, mon chèr docteur, I suppose you will make me die of laughter again to-day!" He laughed with the irrepressible mirth of a small boy amused in church; it was a laugh which rises suddenly and with explosive
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