Pagina 374 di 416

"Hey, Roscoe!" sung out Code, hardly able to control his desire

to grin. "Bring Mrs. Mallaby a chair." Roscoe obeyed and added

two more, so that all were placed within a small compass just

outside Code's cell.

From Elsa Mallaby's first entrance Nat had observed her with a

certain flicker of fear and hatred in his eyes. She, on the other

hand, greeted him with the same formal cordiality she had used

toward the others. Though utterly incongruous in such

surroundings, she seemed absolutely at her ease and instantly

assumed command of the situation.

"Excuse me," said Nat, who had not sat down and shifted from one

foot to the other, "but Schofield sent for me, an' I would like

to find out what he wants. I've got to go along."