I don’t wish them puzzling over if I’m watching what I oughtn’t to be. ” Custis shall we the belt drop to the ground. “Lucy Stoveall and i've this in common,” he says, “neither people can placed her sister’s demise out of brain. I comprehend her. no longer understanding who murdered her sister is oppressing her spirits. She may possibly relaxation more straightforward if she knew who the perpetrator used to be. ” I go away that by myself. “I’ve attempted almighty tough to alter myself,” Custis says. “I tinker with the details of my lifestyles, yet I don’t appear to make a lot headway. you're thinking that that’s something a guy can do, Aloysius – swap himself? ” Custis is veering approximately this night. so far as i will see, something don’t stick with one other. “I received no opinion on that. I by no means tried it. ” “It’s why I enlisted throughout the warfare. a guy must serve whatever greater than himself. It enlarges him. ” Custis ponders for a second. “It’s my nature to maintain my distance. but if I favour anyone, I don’t swap my brain. ” “No, I did swap as soon as, I be mindful now,” I supply. “I used to gamble, yet I supply it up. ” “That isn’t a transformation of nature. you like funds, Aloysius. You figured playing was once a fashion of having your palms on extra of it. however it used to be a wasting proposition – that’s why you swore off it. ” “Well, while i used to be a bit babby I hated peas. i will be able to devour them now. ” “A puppy can discover ways to devour peas. The query is greater than peas. i presumed on all of it day. retaining my distance is the practical factor to do, yet I’m going after Lucy Stoveall. I intend to cajole her again to castle Benton with me. ” “And what if she don’t convince? ” “It’s a perilous enterprise for a girl in the market, shepherded via English bumblers. I’ll make her come. For her personal strong. ” asserting this, Custis’s face adjustments in a fashion I by no means visible ahead of. I’m happy Justice Daniels by no means observed him staring so fearsome. A jury may possibly convict a guy at the proof of that glance by myself. “I’d think carefully approximately it if i used to be you. All you performed because you give up the Indian alternate is sit down in your arse and devour fats red meat. can be you’ve long past too gentle for rescuing girls. ” “We’ll see. ” My mood rises. “Everybody chasing after all people else. these Englishmen chasing their brother. Lucy Stoveall chasing her husband. You after Lucy Stoveall. A video game of fox and hounds. ” “It isn’t a game,” says Straw. “Not to me. ” i will be able to see he ain’t approximately to be talked out of his nonsense. I set the whisky at the flooring in effortless succeed in of his mattress. “I imagine you need to suckle down this bottle. perhaps then should you get up, you’ll have forgot this rattling lunatic idea. ” It’s past due and I’ve had sufficient of Custis Straw. I’m a operating guy, no longer a freebooting horse dealer. i would like my relaxation. I bought glasses to scrub and flooring to comb come morning. I make for the door. “I won’t forget,” says Custis. That halts me, hand at the doorknob. “Those occasions you attempted to alter, Custis. What have been you aiming to be? ” “I desired to be better,” he says. “That’s all. only a larger guy who aimed himself a bit greater. ” I go away him with the ultimate, that's how issues mostly fall out among us, yet I slam the door tough so he understands I ain’t satisfied approximately it.