hisspeed
,
but
not
to
take
effects
so
palpable
as
these
.
It
was
,
however
,
so
deftly
prepared
,
that
under
examination
no
trace
could
be
found
of
it
,
and
the
results
of
veterinary
investigation
,
while
it
left
unremoved
the
conviction
that
the
horse
had
been
doctored
,
could
not
explain
when
or
how
,
or
by
what
medicines
.
Forest
King
had
simply
"
broken
down
;
"
favourites
do
this
on
the
flat
and
over
the
furrow
from
an
over-strain
,
from
a
railway
journey
,
from
a
touch
of
cold
,
from
a
sudden
decay
of
power
,
from
spasm
,
or
from
vertigo
;
those
who
lose
by
them
may
think
what
they
will
of
"
roping
,
"
or
"
painting
,
"
or
"
nobbling
,
"
but
what
can
they
prove
?
Even
in
the
great
scandals
that
come
before
the
autocrats
of
the
Jockey
Club
,
where
the
tampering
is
clearly
known
,
can
the
matter
ever
be
really
proved
and
sifted
?
Very
rarely
:
the
trainer
affects
stolid
unconsciousness
,
or
unimpeachable
respectability
;
the
hapless
stable-boy
is
cross-examined
to
protest
innocence
and
ignorance
,
and
most
likely
protest
them
rightly
;
he
is
accused
,
dismissed
,
and
ruined
,
or
some
young
jock
has
a
"
caution
"
out
everywhere
against
him
,
and
never
again
can
get
a
mount
even
for
the
commonest
handicap
;
but
as
a
rule
the
real
criminals
are
never
unearthed
,
and
by
consequence
are
never
reached
and
punished
.
The
Household
,
present
and
absent
,
were
heavily
hit
;
they
cared
little
for
the
"
crushers
"
they
incurred
,
but
their
champion
's
failure
when
he
was
in
the
face
of
Europe
cut
them
down
more
terribly
.
The
fame
of
the
English
riding-men
had
been
trusted
to
Forest
King
and
his
owner
,
and
they
who
had
never
before
betrayed
the
trust
placed
in
them
had
broken
down
like
any
screw
out
of
a
livery-stable
,
like
any
jockey
bribed
to
"
pull
"
at
a
suburban
selling-race
.
It
was
fearfully
bitter
work
,
and
unanimous
to
a
voice
the
indignant
murmur
of
"
doctored
"
ran
through
the
titled
fashionable
crowds
on
the
Baden
course
in
deep
and
ominous
anger
.
The
Seraph
's
grand
wrath
poured
out
fulminations
against
the
wicked-doer
whosoever
he
was
,
or
wheresoever
he
lurked
;
and
threatened
with
a
vengeance
that
would
be
no
empty
words
,
the
direst
chastisement
of
the
"
Club
,
"
of
which
both
his
father
and
himself
were
stewards
,
upon
the
unknown
criminal
.
The
Austrian
and
French
nobles
,
while
winners
by
the
event
,
were
scarce
in
less
angered
excitement
;
it
seemed
to
cast
the
foulest
slur
upon
their
honour
,
that
upon
foreign
ground
the
renowned
English
steeple-chaser
should
have
been
tampered
with
thus
;
and
the
fair
ladies
of
either
world
added
the
influence
of
their
silver
tongues
,
and
were
eloquent
in
the
vivacity
of
their
sympathy
and
resentment
with
an
unanimity
women
rarely
show
in
savouring
defeat
,
but
usually
reserve
for
the
fairer
opportunity
of
swaying
the
censer
before
success
.
Cecil
alone
,
amidst
it
all
,
was
very
quiet
;
he
said
scarcely
a
word
,
nor
could
the
sharpest
watcher
have
detected
an
alteration
in
his
countenance
.
Only
once
,
when
they
talked
around
him
of
the
investigations
of
the
Club
,
and
of
the
institution
of
inquiries
to
discover
the
guilty
traitor
,
he
looked
up
with
a
sudden
,
dangerous
lighting
of
his
soft
,
dark
,
hazel
eyes
,
under
the
womanish
length
of
their
lashes
:
"
When
you
find
him
,
leave
him
to
me
.
"
The
light
was
gone
again
in
an
instant
,
but
to
those
who
knew
the
wild
strain
that
ran
in
the
Royallieu
blood
,
knew
by
it
that
,
despite
his
gentle
temper
,
a
terrible
reckoning
for
the
evil
done
his
horse
might
come
some
day
from
the
Quietist
.
He
said
little
or
nothing
else
,
and
to
the
sympathy
and
indignation
expressed
for
him
on
all
sides
he
answered
with
his
old
,
listless
calm
.
But
in
truth
he
barely
knew
what
was
saying
or
doing
about
him
;
he
felt
like
a
man
stunned
and
crushed
with
the
violence
of
some
tremendous
fall
;
the
excitation
,
the
agitation
,
the
angry
amazement
around
him
(
growing
as
near
clamour
and
tumult
as
was
possible
in
those
fashionable
betting-circles
,
so
free
from
roughs
and
almost
free
from
bookmakers
)
,
the
conflicting
opinions
clashing
here
and
there
,
even
,
indeed
,
the
graceful
condolence
of
the
brilliant
women
,
were
insupportable
to
him
.
He
longed
to
be
out
of
this
world
which
had
so
well
amused
him
;
he
longed
passionately
for
the
first
time
in
his
life
to
be
alone
.
For
he
knew
that
with
the
failure
of
Forest
King
had
gone
the
last
plank
that
saved
him
from
ruin
;
perhaps
the
last
chance
that
stood
between
him
and
dishonour
.
He
had
never
looked
on
it
as
within
the
possibilities
of
hazard
that
the
horse
could
be
defeated
;
now
,
little
as
those
about
him
knew
it
,
an
absolute
and
irremediable
disgrace
fronted
him
.
For
,
secure
in
the
issue
of
the
Prix
de
Dames
,
and
compelled
to
weight
his
chances
in
it
very
heavily
that
his
winnings
might
be
wide
enough
to
relieve
some
of
the
debt-pressure
upon
him
,
his
losses
now
were
great
,
and
he
knew
no
more
how
to
raise
the
moneys
to
meet
them
than
he
would
have
known
how
to
raise
the
dead
.
The
blow
fell
with
crashing
force
;
the
fiercer
,
because
his
indolence
had
persisted
in
ignoring
his
danger
,
and
because
his
whole
character
was
so
naturally
careless
,
and
so
habituated
to
ease
and
to
enjoyment
.
A
bitter
,
heart-sick
misery
fell
on
him
;
the
tone
of
honour
was
high
with
him
;
he
might
be
reckless
of
everything
else
,
but
he
could
never
be
reckless
in
what
infringed
,
or
went
nigh
to
infringe
,
a
very
stringent
code
.
Bertie
never
reasoned
in
that
way
;
he
simply
followed
the
instincts
of
his
breeding
without
analysing
them
;
but
these
led
him
safely
and
surely
right
in
all
his
dealings
with
his
fellowmen
,
however
open
to
censure
his
life
might
be
in
other
matters
.
Careless
as
he
was
,
and
indifferent
,
to
levity
,
in
many
things
,
his
ideas
of
honour
were
really
very
pure
and
elevated
;
he
suffered
proportionately
now
,
that
through
the
follies
of
his
own
imprudence
,
and
the
baseness
of
some
treachery
he
could
neither
sift
nor
avenge
,
he
saw
himself
driven
down
into
as
close
a
jeopardy
of
disgrace
as
ever
befel
a
man
who
did
not
wilfully
,
and
out
of
guilty
coveting
of
its
fruits
,
seek
it
.
For
the
first
time
in
his
life
the
society
of
his
troops
of
acquaintance
became
intolerably
oppressive
;
for
the
first
time
in
his
life
he
sought
refuge
from
thought
in
the
stimulus
of
drink
,
and
dashed
down
neat
cognac
as
though
it
were
iced
Badminton
,
as
he
drove
with
his
set
off
the
disastrous
plains
of
Iffesheim
.
He
shook
himself
free
of
them
as
soon
as
he
could
;
he
felt
the
chatter
round
him
insupportable
;
the
men
were
thoroughly
good-hearted
,
and
though
they
were
sharply
hit
by
the
day
's
issue
,
never
even
by
implication
hinted
at
owing
the
disaster
to
their
faith
in
him
,
but
the
very
cordiality
and
sympathy
they
showed
cut
him
the
keenest
,
—
the
very
knowledge
of
their
forbearance
made
his
own
thoughts
darkest
.
Far
worse
to
Cecil
than
the
personal
destruction
the
day
's
calamity
brought
him
was
the
knowledge
of
the
entire
faith
these
men
had
placed
in
him
,
and
the
losses
to
which
his
own
mistaken
security
had
caused
them
.
Granted
he
could
neither
guess
nor
avert
the
trickery
which
had
brought
about
his
failure
;
but
none
the
less
did
he
feel
that
he
had
failed
them
;
none
the
less
did
the
very
generosity
and
magnanimity
they
showed
him
sting
him
like
a
scourge
.
He
got
away
from
them
at
last
,
and
wandered
out
alone
into
the
gardens
of
the
Stephanien
,
till
the
green
trees
of
an
alley
shut
him
in
in
solitude
,
and
the
only
echo
of
the
gay
world
of
Baden
was
the
strain
of
a
band
,
the
light
mirth
of
a
laugh
,
or
the
roll
of
a
carriage
sounding
down
the
summer
air
.
It
was
eight
o'clock
;
the
sun
was
slanting
to
the
west
in
a
cloudless
splendour
,
bathing
the
bright
scene
in
a
rich
golden
glow
,
and
tinging
to
bronze
the
dark
masses
of
the
Black
Forest
.
In
another
hour
he
was
the
expected
guest
of
a
Russian
Prince
at
a
dinner-party
,
where
all
that
was
highest
,
fairest
,
greatest
,
most
powerful
,
and
most
bewitching
of
every
nationality
represented
there
would
meet
;
and
in
the
midst
of
this
radiant
whirlpool
of
extravagance
and
pleasure
,
where
every
man
worth
owning
as
such
was
his
friend
,
and
every
woman
whose
smile
he
cared
for
welcomed
him
,
he
knew
himself
as
utterly
alone
,
as
utterly
doomed
,
as
the
lifeless
Prussian
lying
in
the
dead-house
.
No
aid
could
serve
him
,
for
it
would
have
been
but
to
sink
lower
yet
to
ask
or
to
take
it
;
no
power
could
save
him
from
the
ruin
which
in
a
few
days
later
at
the
farthest
would
mark
him
out
for
ever
an
exiled
,
beggared
,
perhaps
dishonoured
,
man
,
—
a
debtor
and
an
alien
.
Where
he
had
thrown
himself
on
a
bench
beneath
a
mountain-ash
,
trying
vainly
to
realise
this
thing
which
had
come
upon
him
,
and
to
meet
which
not
training
,
nor
habit
,
nor
a
moment
's
grave
reflection
had
ever
done
the
slightest
to
prepare
him
,
gazing
blankly
and
unconsciously
at
the
dense
pine
woods
and
rugged
glens
of
the
Forest
that
sloped
upward
and
around
above
the
green
and
leafy
nest
of
Baden
,
he
watched
mechanically
the
toiling
passage
of
a
charcoal-burner
going
up
the
hill-side
in
the
distance
through
the
firs
.
"
Those
poor
devils
envy
us
!
"
he
thought
.
"
Better
be
one
of
them
ten
thousand
times
than
be
trained
for
the
Great
Race
,
and
started
with
the
cracks
,
dead
weighted
with
the
penalty-shot
of
Poverty
!
"
A
soft
touch
came
on
his
arm
as
he
sat
there
;
he
looked
up
,
surprised
:
before
him
stood
a
dainty
,
delicate
,
little
form
,
all
gay
with
white
lace
,
and
broideries
,
and
rose
ribands
,
and
floating
hair
fastened
backward
with
a
golden
fillet
;
it
was
that
of
the
little
Lady
Venetia
,
the
only
daughter
of
the
House
of
Lyonnesse
,
by
a
late
marriage
of
his
Grace
,
the
eight-year-old
sister
of
the
colossal
Seraph
;
the
plaything
of
a
young
and
lovely
mother
,
who
had
flirted
in
Belgravia
with
her
future
stepson
before
she
fell
sincerely
and
veritably
in
love
with
the
gallant
and
still
handsome
Duke
.
Cecil
roused
himself
and
smiled
at
her
;
he
had
been
by
months
together
at
Lyonnesse
most
years
of
the
child
's
life
,
and
had
been
gentle
to
her
as
he
was
to
every
living
thing
,
though
he
had
noticed
her
seldom
.
"
Well
,
Petite
Reine
,
"
he
said
,
kindly
bitter
as
his
thoughts
were
,
calling
her
by
the
name
she
generally
bore
,
"
all
alone
;
where
are
your
playmates
?
"
"
Petite
Reine
,
"
who
,
to
justify
her
sobriquet
,
was
a
grand
,
imperial
,
little
lady
,
bent
her
delicate
head
—
a
very
delicate
head
,
indeed
,
carrying
itself
royally
,
young
though
it
was
.
"
Ah
!
you
know
I
never
care
for
children
!
"
It
was
said
so
disdainfully
,
yet
so
sincerely
,
without
a
touch
of
affectation
,
and
so
genuinely
,
as
the
expression
of
a
matured
and
contemptuous
opinion
,
that
even
in
that
moment
it
amused
him
.
She
did
not
wait
an
answer
,
but
bent
nearer
with
an
infinite
pity
and
anxiety
in
her
pretty
eyes
.
"
I
want
to
know
—
—
;
you
are
so
vexed
,
are
you
not
?
They
say
you
have
lost
all
your
money
!
"
"
Do
they
?
They
are
not
far
wrong
,
then
.
Who
are
'
they
,
'
Petite
Reine
?
"
"
Oh
,
Prince
Alexis
,
and
the
Due
de
Lorance
,
and
mamma
,
and
everybody
.
Is
it
true
?
"
"
Very
true
,
my
little
lady
.
"
"
Ah
!
"
She
gave
a
long
sigh
,
looking
pathetically
at
him
,
with
her
head
on
one
side
,
and
her
lips
parted
.
"
I
heard
the
Russian
gentlemen
saying
that
you
were
ruined
.
Is
that
true
,
too
?
"
"
Yes
,
dear
,
"
he
answered
,
wearily
,
thinking
little
of
the
child
in
the
desperate
excess
to
which
his
life
had
come
.
Petite
Reine
stood
by
him
,
silent
;
her
proud
,
imperial
young
ladyship
had
a
very
tender
heart
,
and
she
was
very
sorry
;
she
had
understood
what
had
been
said
before
her
of
him
vaguely
indeed
,
and
with
no
sense
of
its
true
meaning
,
yet
still
,
with
the
quick
perception
of
a
brilliant
and
petted
child
.
Looking
at
her
,
he
saw
with
astonishment
that
her
eyes
were
filled
with
tears
;
he
put
out
his
hand
and
drew
her
to
him
.
"
Why
,
little
one
,
what
do
you
know
of
these
things
?
How
did
you
find
me
out
here
?
"
She
bent
nearer
to
him
,
swaying
her
slender
figure
,
with
its
bright
gossamer
muslins
,
like
a
dainty
hare-bell
,
and
lifting
her
face
to
his
,
earnest
,
beseeching
,
and
very
eager
.
"
I
came
—
I
came
—
please
do
n't
be
angry
,
—
because
I
heard
them
say
you
had
no
money
,
and
I
want
you
to
take
mine
.
Do
take
it
!
Look
,
it
is
all
bright
gold
,
and
it
is
my
own
,
my
very
own
.
Papa
gives
it
to
me
to
do
just
what
I
like
with
.
Do
take
it
;
pray
do
!
"
Colouring
deeply
,
for
the
Petite
Reine
had
that
true
instinct
of
generous
natures
,
a
most
sensitive
delicacy
for
others
,
but
growing
ardent
in
her
eloquence
and
imploring
in
her
entreaty
,
she
shook
on
to
Cecil
's
knee
,
out
of
a
little
enamel
sweetmeat-box
,
twenty
bright
Napoléons
,
that
fell
in
a
glittering
shower
on
the
grass
.
He
started
,
and
looked
at
her
in
a
silence
that
she
mistook
for
offence
.
She
leaned
nearer
,
pale
now
with
her
excitement
,
and
with
her
large
eyes
gleaming
and
melting
with
passionate
entreaty
.
"
Do
n't
be
angry
;
pray
take
it
;
it
is
all
my
own
,
and
you
know
I
have
bonbons
,
and
books
,
and
playthings
,
and
ponies
,
and
dogs
,
till
I
am
tired
of
them
.
I
never
want
the
money
,
indeed
I
do
n't
.
Take
it
,
please
take
it
;
and
if
you
will
only
let
me
ask
papa
or
Rock
,
they
will
give
you
thousands
and
thousands
of
pounds
if
that
is
n't
enough
.
Do
let
me
?
"
Cecil
,
in
silence
still
,
stooped
and
drew
her
to
him
;
when
he
spoke
,
his
voice
shook
ever
so
slightly
,
and
he
felt
his
eyes
dim
with
an
emotion
that
he
had
not
known
in
all
his
careless
life
;
the
child
's
words
and
action
touched
him
deeply
,
the
caressing
generous
innocence
of
the
offered
gift
beside
the
enormous
extravagance
and
hopeless
bankruptcy
of
his
career
,
smote
him
with
a
keen
pang
,
yet
moved
him
with
a
strange
pleasure
.
"
Petite
Reine
,
"
he
murmured
gently
,
striving
vainly
for
his
old
lightness
—
"
Petite
Reine
,
how
some
man
will
love
you
one
day
!
Thank
you
from
my
heart
,
my
little
innocent
friend
.
"
Her
face
flushed
with
gladness
;
she
smiled
with
all
a
child
's
unshadowed
joy
.
"
Ah
!
then
you
will
take
it
?
And
if
you
want
more
,
only
let
me
ask
them
for
it
;
papa
and
Philip
never
refuse
me
anything
!
"
His
hand
wandered
gently
over
the
shower
of
her
hair
,
as
he
put
back
the
Napoléons
that
he
had
gathered
up
into
her
azure
bonbonnière
.
"
Petite
Reine
,
you
are
a
little
angel
;
but
I
cannot
take
your
money
,
my
child
,
and
you
must
ask
for
none
for
my
sake
from
your
father
or
from
Rock
.
Do
not
look
so
grieved
,
little
one
;
I
love
you
none
the
less
because
I
refuse
it
.
"
Petite
Reine
's
face
was
very
pale
and
grave
;
a
delicate
face
,
in
its
miniature
feminine
childhood
almost
absurdly
like
the
Seraph
's
;
her
eyes
were
full
of
plaintive
wonder
and
of
pathetic
reproach
.
"
Ah
,
"
she
said
,
drooping
her
head
with
a
sigh
,
"
it
is
no
good
to
you
because
it
is
such
a
little
.
Do
let
me
ask
for
more
?
"
He
smiled
,
but
the
smile
was
very
weary
.
"
No
,
dear
,
you
must
not
ask
for
more
;
I
have
been
very
foolish
,
my
little
friend
,
and
I
must
take
the
fruits
of
my
folly
;
all
men
must
.
I
can
accept
no
one
's
money
,
not
even
yours
;
when
you
are
older
and
remember
this
,
you
will
know
why
;
but
I
do
not
thank
you
the
less
from
my
heart
.
"
She
looked
at
him
,
pained
and
wistful
.
"
You
will
not
take
anything
,
Mr.
Cecil
?
"
she
asked
with
a
sigh
,
glancing
at
her
rejected
Napoléons
.
He
drew
the
enamel
bonbonnière
away
.
"
I
will
take
that
,
if
you
will
give
it
me
,
Petite
Reine
,
and
keep
it
in
memory
of
you
.
As
he
spoke
,
he
stooped
and
kissed
her
very
gently
;
the
act
had
moved
him
more
deeply
than
he
thought
he
had
it
in
him
to
be
moved
by
anything
,
and
the
child
's
face
turned
upwards
to
him
was
of
a
very
perfect
and
aristocratic
loveliness
far
beyond
her
years
.
She
coloured
as
his
lips
touched
hers
,
and
swayed
slightly
from
him
.
She
was
an
extremely
proud
young
sovereign
,
and
never
allowed
caresses
;
yet
she
lingered
by
him
troubled
,
grave
,
with
something
intensely
tender
and
pitiful
in
the
musing
look
of
her
eyes
.
She
had
a
perception
that
this
calamity
which
smote
him
was
one
far
beyond
the
ministering
of
her
knowledge
.
He
took
the
pretty
Palais
Royal
gold-rimmed
sweetmeat-box
,
and
slipped
it
into
his
waistcoat-pocket
.
It
was
only
a
child
's
gift
,
a
tiny
Paris
toy
,
but
it
had
been
brought
to
him
in
a
tender
compassion
,
and
he
did
keep
it
—
kept
it
through
dark
days
and
wild
nights
,
through
the
scorch
of
the
desert
and
the
shadows
of
death
,
till
the
young
eyes
that
questioned
him
now
with
such
innocent
wonder
had
gained
the
grander
lustre
of
their
womanhood
,
and
had
brought
him
a
grief
wider
than
he
knew
now
.
At
that
moment
,
as
the
child
stood
beside
him
under
the
drooping
acacia
boughs
,
with
the
green
sloping
lower
valley
seen
at
glimpses
through
the
wall
of
leaves
,
one
of
the
men
of
the
Stephanien
approached
him
with
an
English
letter
,
which
,
as
it
was
marked
"
Instant
,
"
they
had
laid
apart
from
the
rest
of
the
visitors
'
pile
of
correspondence
;
Cecil
took
it
wearily
—
nothing
but
fresh
embarrassments
could
come
to
him
from
England
—
and
looked
at
the
little
Lady
Venetia
.
"
You
will
allow
me
?
"
She
bowed
her
graceful
head
:
with
all
the
naïf
unconsciousness
of
a
child
she
had
all
the
manner
of
the
vielle
cour
;
—
—
together
they
made
her
enchanting
.
He
broke
the
envelope
and
read
;
—
a
blurred
,
scrawled
,
miserable
letter
,
the
words
erased
with
passionate
strokes
,
and
blotted
with
hot
tears
,
and
scored
out
in
impulsive
misery
.
It
was
long
,
yet
at
a
glance
he
scanned
its
message
and
its
meaning
;
at
the
first
few
words
he
knew
its
whole
as
well
as
though
he
had
studied
every
line
.
A
strong
tremor
shook
him
from
head
to
foot
,
a
tremor
at
once
of
passionate
rage
and
of
as
passionate
pain
;
his
face
blanched
to
a
deadly
whiteness
;
his
teeth
clenched
as
though
he
were
restraining
some
bodily
suffering
,
and
he
tore
the
letter
in
two
and
stamped
it
down
into
the
turf
under
his
heel
,
with
a
gesture
as
unlike
his
common
serenity
of
manner
as
the
fiery
passion
that
darkened
in
his
eyes
was
unlike
the
habitual
softness
of
his
too
pliant
and
too
unresentful
temper
.
He
crushed
the
senseless
paper
again
and
again
down
into
the
grass
beneath
his
heel
,
his
lips
shook
under
the
silky
abundance
of
his
beard
;
the
natural
habit
of
long
usage
kept
him
from
all
utterance
,
and
even
in
the
violence
of
its
shock
he
remembered
the
young
Venetia
's
presence
;
but
,
in
that
one
fierce
unrestrained
gesture
,
the
shame
and
suffering
upon
him
broke
out
despite
himself
.
The
child
watched
him
,
startled
and
awed
.
She
touched
his
hand
softly
.
"
What
is
it
?
Is
it
anything
worse
?
"
He
turned
his
eyes
on
her
with
a
dry
,
hot
,
weary
anguish
in
them
;
he
was
scarcely
conscious
what
he
said
or
what
he
answered
.
"
Worse
—
worse
?
"
he
repeated
,
mechanically
,
while
his
heel
still
ground
down
in
loathing
the
shattered
paper
into
the
grass
.
"
There
can
be
nothing
worse
!
—
it
is
the
vilest
,
blackest
shame
.
"
He
spoke
to
his
thoughts
,
not
to
her
.
The
words
died
in
his
throat
;
a
bitter
agony
was
on
him
;
all
the
golden
summer
evening
,
all
the
fair
green
world
about
him
,
were
indistinct
and
unreal
to
his
senses
;
he
felt
as
if
the
whole
earth
were
of
a
sudden
changed
.
He
could
not
realise
that
this
thing
could
come
to
him
and
his
;
—
that
this
foul
dishonour
could
creep
up
and
stain
them
;
—
that
this
infamy
could
ever
be
of
them
and
upon
them
.
All
the
ruin
that
before
had
fallen
on
him
to-day
was
dwarfed
and
banished
;
it
looked
nothing
beside
the
unendurable
horror
that
reached
him
now
.
The
gay
laughter
of
children
sounded
down
the
air
at
that
moment
;
they
were
the
children
of
a
French
Princess
seeking
their
playmate
,
Venetia
,
who
had
escaped
from
them
and
from
their
games
to
find
her
way
to
Cecil
.
He
motioned
her
to
them
;
he
could
not
bear
even
the
clear
and
pitying
eyes
of
the
Petite
Reine
to
be
upon
him
now
.
She
lingered
wistfully
;
she
did
not
like
to
leave
him
.
"
Let
me
stay
with
you
,
"
she
pleaded
,
caressingly
.
"
You
are
vexed
at
something
;
I
cannot
help
you
,
but
Rock
will
—
the
Duke
will
.
Do
let
me
ask
them
?
"
He
laid
his
hand
on
her
shoulder
;
his
voice
,
as
he
answered
,
was
hoarse
and
unsteady
.
"
No
;
go
,
dear
.
You
will
please
me
best
by
leaving
me
.
Ask
none
—
tell
none
;
I
can
trust
you
to
be
silent
,
Petite
Reine
?
"
She
gave
him
a
long
earnest
look
.
"
Yes
,
"
she
answered
,
simply
and
gravely
,
as
one
who
accepts
,
and
not
lightly
,
a
trust
.
Then
she
went
slowly
and
lingeringly
,
with
the
sun
on
the
gold
fillet
binding
her
hair
,
but
the
tears
heavy
on
the
shadow
of
her
silken
lashes
.
When
next
they
met
,
the
lustre
of
a
warmer
sun
that
once
burned
on
the
white
walls
of
the
palaces
of
Phoenicia
and
the
leaping
flames
of
the
Temple
of
the
God
of
Healing
,
shone
upon
them
,
and
through
the
veil
of
those
sweeping
lashes
there
gazed
the
resistless
sovereignty
of
a
proud
and
patrician
womanhood
.
Alone
,
his
head
sank
down
upon
his
hands
,
he
gave
reins
to
the
fiery
scorn
,
the
acute
suffering
,
which
turn
by
turn
seized
him
with
every
moment
that
seared
the
words
of
the
letter
deeper
and
deeper
down
into
his
brain
.
Until
this
,
he
had
never
known
what
it
was
to
suffer
;
until
this
,
his
languid
creeds
had
held
that
no
wise
man
feels
strongly
,
and
that
to
glide
through
life
untroubled
and
unmoved
is
as
possible
as
it
is
politic
.
Now
he
suffered
—
he
suffered
dumbly
as
a
dog
,
passionately
as
a
barbarian
;
now
he
was
met
by
that
which
,
in
the
moment
of
its
dealing
,
pierced
his
panoplies
of
indifference
,
and
escaped
his
light
philosophies
.
"
Oh
God
!
"
he
thought
,
"
if
it
were
anything
—
anything
—
except
Disgrace
!
"
In
a
miserable
den
,
an
hour
or
so
before
—
there
are
miserable
dens
even
in
Baden
,
that
gold-decked
rendezvous
of
Princes
where
crowned
heads
are
numberless
as
couriers
,
and
great
ministers
must
sometimes
be
content
with
a
shakedown
—
two
men
sat
in
consultation
.
Though
the
chamber
was
poor
and
dark
,
their
table
was
loaded
with
various
expensive
wines
and
liqueurs
;
of
a
truth
they
were
flush
of
money
,
and
selected
this
poor
place
from
motives
of
concealment
rather
than
of
necessity
.
One
of
them
was
the
"
Welsher
,
"
Ben
Davis
;
the
other
,
a
smaller
,
quieter
man
,
with
a
keen
vivacious
Hebrew
eye
and
an
olive-tinted
skin
,
a
Jew
,
Ezra
Baroni
.
The
Jew
was
cool
,
sharp
,
and
generally
silent
;
the
"
Welsher
,
"
heated
,
eager
,
flushed
with
triumph
and
glowing
with
a
gloating
malignity
.
Excitement
and
the
fire
of
very
strong
wines
of
whose
vintage
brandy
formed
a
large
part
,
had
made
him
voluble
in
exultation
;
the
monosyllabic
sententiousness
that
had
characterised
him
in
the
loose-box
at
Royallien
had
been
dissipated
under
the
ardour
of
success
;
and
Ben
Davis
,
with
his
legs
on
the
table
,
a
pipe
between
his
teeth
,
and
his
bloated
face
purple
with
a
brutal
contentment
,
might
have
furnished
to
a
Teniers
the
personification
of
culminated
cunning
and
of
delighted
tyranny
.
"
That
precious
Guards
'
swell
!
"
he
muttered
,
gloatingly
,
for
the
hundredth
time
.
"
I
've
paid
him
out
at
last
!
He
wo
n't
take
a
'
Walk
Over
'
again
in
a
hurry
.
Cuss
them
swells
!
they
allays
die
so
game
;
it
ai
n't
half
a
go
after
all
,
giving
'
em
a
facer
;
they
just
come
up
to
time
so
cool
under
it
all
,
and
never
show
they
're
down
,
even
when
their
backers
throw
up
the
sponge
.
You
ca
n't
make
'
em
give
in
not
even
when
they
're
mortal
hit
;
that
's
the
crusher
of
it
.
"
"
Vell
—
vhat
matter
that
ven
you
have
hit
'
em
?
"
expostulated
the
more
philosophic
Jew
.
"
Why
—
it
is
a
fleecin
'
of
one
,
"
retorted
the
Welsher
,
savagely
even
amidst
his
successes
.
"
A
clear
fleecin
'
of
one
.
If
one
gets
the
better
of
a
dandy
chap
like
that
,
and
brings
him
down
neat
and
clean
,
one
ought
to
have
the
spice
of
it
.
One
ought
to
see
him
wince
and
—
;
cuss
'
em
all
!
—
that
's
just
what
they
'll
never
do
.
No
!
not
if
it
was
ever
so
.
You
may
pitch
into
'
em
like
Old
Harry
,
and
those
d
—
d
fine
gentlemen
'
ll
just
look
as
if
they
liked
it
.
You
might
strike
'
em
dead
at
your
feet
,
and
it
's
my
belief
,
while
they
was
cold
as
stones
,
they
'd
manage
to
look
not
beaten
yet
.
It
's
a
fleecin
'
of
one
—
a
fleecin
'
of
one
!
"
he
growled
afresh
,
draining
down
a
great
draught
of
brandy-heated
Roussillon
to
drown
the
impatient
conviction
which
possessed
him
that
let
him
triumph
as
he
would
there
would
ever
remain
,
in
that
fine
intangible
sense
which
his
coarse
nature
could
feel
,
though
he
could
not
have
further
defined
it
,
a
superiority
in
his
adversary
he
could
not
conquer
,
a
difference
between
him
and
his
and
prey
he
could
not
bridge
over
.
The
Jew
laughed
a
little
.
"
Vot
a
shild
you
are
,
you
Big
Ben
!
Vot
matter
how
he
look
so
long
as
you
have
de
success
and
pocket
de
monish
?
"
Big
Ben
gave
a
long
growl
like
a
mastiff
tearing
to
reach
a
bone
just
held
above
him
.
"
Hang
the
blunt
!
The
yellows
ai
n't
a
quarter
worth
to
me
what
it
'
ud
be
to
see
him
just
look
as
if
he
knew
he
was
knocked
over
.
Besides
,
laying
agin
'
him
by
that
ere
commission
's
piled
up
hatsful
of
the
ready
to
be
sure
,
I
do
n't
say
it
hai
n't
,
but
there
's
two
thou
'
knocked
off
for
Willon
,
and
the
fool
do
n't
deserve
a
tizzy
of
it
;
he
went
and
put
the
paint
on
so
think
,
that
if
the
Club
do
n't
have
a
flare-up
about
the
whole
thing
—
—
"
"
Let
dem
!
"
said
the
Jew
,
serenely
.
"
Dey
can
do
vot
dey
like
;
dey
vo
n't
get
to
de
bottom
of
de
vell
.
Dat
Villon
is
sharp
,
he
vill
know
how
to
keep
his
tongue
still
;
dey
can
prove
nothin
'
;
dey
may
give
de
sack
to
a
stable-boy
,
or
dey
may
tink
demselves
mighty
bright
in
seeing
a
mare
's
nest
,
but
dey
vill
never
come
to
us
.
"
The
Welsher
gave
a
loud
horse-guffaw
of
relish
and
enjoyment
.
"
No
!
We
know
the
ins
and
outs
of
Turf
Law
a
trifle
too
well
to
be
caught
napping
.
A
neater
thing
were
n't
ever
done
,
if
it
had
n't
been
that
the
paint
was
put
a
trifle
too
thick
.
The
'
oss
should
have
just
run
ill
,
and
not
knocked
over
clean
out
o
'
time
like
that
.
However
,
there
ai
n't
no
odds
a
cryin
'
over
spilt
milk
.
If
the
Club
do
come
a
inquiry
,
we
'll
show
'
em
a
few
tricks
that
'll
puzzle
'
em
.
But
it
's
my
belief
they
'll
let
it
off
on
the
quiet
;
there
ai
n't
a
bit
of
evidence
to
show
the
'
oss
was
doctored
,
and
the
way
he
went
stood
quite
as
well
for
having
been
knocked
off
his
feed
and
off
his
legs
by
the
woyage
and
sich-like
.
And
now
,
you
go
and
put
that
swell
to
the
grindstone
for
Act
2
of
the
comedy
,
will
yer
?
"
Ezra
Baroni
smiled
where
he
leant
against
the
table
looking
over
some
papers
.
"
Dis
is
a
delicate
matter
;
do
n't
you
come
putting
your
big
paw
in
it
;
you
'll
spoil
it
all
.
"
Ben
Davis
growled
afresh
:
"
No
,
I
ai
n't
a-goin
'
.
You
know
as
well
as
me
I
ca
n't
show
in
the
thing
.
Hanged
if
I
would
n't
a'most
lief
risk
a
lifer
out
at
Botany
Bay
for
the
sake
o
'
wringing
my
fine
feathered
bird
myself
,
but
I
dares
n't
;
if
he
was
to
see
me
in
it
all
'
ud
be
up
.
You
must
do
it
.
Get
along
;
you
look
uncommon
respectable
.
If
your
coat-tails
was
a
little
bit
longer
,
you
might
right
and
away
be
took
for
a
parson
.
"
The
Jew
laughed
softly
,
the
Welsher
grimly
,
at
the
compliment
they
paid
the
Church
.
Baroni
put
up
his
papers
into
a
neat
Russia
letter-book
.
Excellently
dressed
,
without
a
touch
of
flashiness
,
he
did
look
eminently
respectable
,
—
and
he
lingered
a
moment
,
—
—
"
I
say
,
dear
shild
,
—
vat
if
de
Marquis
vant
to
buy
off
and
hush
up
?
Ten
to
von
he
vill
,
he
care
no
more
for
monish
than
for
dem
macaroons
,
and
he
love
his
friend
,
dey
say
.
"
Ben
Davis
took
his
legs
off
the
table
with
a
crash
,
and
stood
up
,
flushed
,
thirstily
eager
,
almost
aggressive
in
his
peremptory
excitement
.
"
Without
wringing
my
dainty
bird
's
neck
?
Not
for
a
million
paid
out
o
'
hand
!
Without
crushing
my
fine
gentleman
down
into
powder
?
Not
for
all
the
blunt
of
every
one
o
'
the
Rothschilds
!
Curse
his
woman
's
face
!
I
've
got
to
keep
dark
now
,
but
when
he
's
crushed
,
and
smashed
,
and
ruined
,
and
pilloried
,
and
druv
'
out
of
his
fine
world
,
and
warned
off
of
all
his
aristocratic
race-courses
,
then
I
'll
come
in
and
take
a
look
at
him
;
then
I
'll
see
my
brilliant
gentleman
a
worn-out
,
broken-down
swindler
,
a
dyin
'
in
a
bagnio
!
"
The
intense
malignity
,
the
brutal
hungry
lust
for
vengeance
that
inspired
the
words
,
lent
their
coarse
vulgarity
something
that
was
for
the
moment
almost
tragical
in
its
strength
,
almost
horrible
in
its
passion
.
Ezra
Baroni
looked
at
him
quietly
,
then
without
another
word
went
out
—
to
a
congenial
task
.
"
Dat
big
shild
is
a
fool
,
"
mused
the
subtler
and
gentler
Jew
.
"
Vengeance
is
but
de
breath
of
de
vind
,
it
blow
for
you
one
day
,
it
blow
against
you
de
next
:
de
only
real
good
is
monish
.
"
The
Seraph
had
ridden
back
from
Iffesheim
to
the
Bad
in
company
with
some
Austrian
officers
,
and
one
or
two
of
his
own
comrades
.
He
had
left
the
course
late
,
staying
to
exhaust
every
possible
means
of
inquiry
as
to
the
failure
of
Forest
King
,
and
to
discuss
with
other
members
of
the
Newmarket
and
foreign
jockey
clubs
the
best
methods
—
if
method
there
were
—
of
discovering
what
foul
play
had
been
on
foot
with
the
horse
.
That
there
was
some
,
and
very
foul
too
,
the
testimony
of
men
and
angels
would
not
have
dissuaded
the
Seraph
,
and
the
event
had
left
him
most
unusually
grave
and
regretful
.
The
amount
he
had
lost
himself
,
in
consequence
,
was
of
not
the
slightest
moment
to
him
,
although
he
was
extravagant
enough
to
run
almost
to
the
end
even
of
his
own
princely
tether
in
money
matters
;
but
that
"
Beauty
"
should
be
cut
down
was
more
vexatious
to
him
than
any
evil
accident
that
could
have
befallen
himself
,
and
he
guessed
pretty
nearly
the
fatal
influence
the
dead
failure
would
have
on
his
friend
's
position
.
True
,
he
had
never
heard
Cecil
breathe
a
syllable
that
hinted
at
embarrassment
;
but
these
things
get
known
with
tolerable
accuracy
about
the
town
,
and
those
who
were
acquainted
,
as
most
people
in
their
set
were
,
with
the
impoverished
condition
of
the
Royallieu
Exchequer
,
however
hidden
it
might
be
under
an
unabated
magnificence
of
living
,
were
well
aware
also
that
none
of
the
old
Viscount
's
sons
could
have
any
safe
resources
to
guarantee
them
from
as
rapid
a
ruin
as
they
liked
to
consummate
.
Indeed
,
it
had
of
late
been
whispered
that
it
was
probable
,
despite
the
provisions
of
the
entail
,
that
all
the
green
wealth
and
Norman
beauty
of
Royallieu
itself
would
come
into
the
market
.
Hence
the
Seraph
,
the
best-hearted
and
most
generous-natured
of
men
,
was
worried
by
an
anxiety
and
a
despondency
which
he
would
never
have
indulged
most
assuredly
on
his
own
account
,
as
he
rode
away
from
Iffesheim
after
the
defeat
of
his
Corps
'
champion
.
He
was
expected
to
dinner
with
one
of
the
most
lovely
of
foreign
Ambassadresses
,
and
was
to
go
with
her
afterwards
to
the
Vaudeville
,
at
the
pretty
golden
theatre
,
where
a
troupe
from
the
Bouffes
were
playing
;
but
he
felt
anything
but
in
the
mood
for
even
her
bewitching
and
—
in
a
marriageable
sense
—
safe
society
,
as
he
stopped
his
horse
at
his
own
hotel
,
the
Badischer
Hof
.
As
he
swung
himself
out
of
saddle
,
a
well-dressed
,
quiet
,
rather
handsome
little
man
drew
near
respectfully
,
lifting
his
hat
,
—
it
was
M
.
Baroni
.
The
Seraph
had
never
seen
the
man
in
his
life
that
he
knew
of
,
but
he
was
himself
naturally
frank
,
affable
,
courteous
,
and
never
given
to
hedging
himself
behind
the
pale
of
his
high
rank
;
provided
you
did
not
bore
him
,
you
might
always
get
access
to
him
easily
enough
—
the
Duke
used
to
tell
him
,
too
easily
.
Therefore
,
when
Ezra
Baroni
deferentially
approached
"
the
Most
Noble
the
Marquis
of
Rockingham
,
I
think
?
"
the
Seraph
,
instead
of
leaving
the
stranger
there
discomfited
,
nodded
and
paused
with
his
inconsequent
good
nature
,
thinking
how
much
less
bosh
it
would
be
if
everybody
could
call
him
like
his
family
and
his
comrades
,
"
Rock
.
"
"
That
is
my
name
,
"
he
answered
.
"
I
do
not
know
you
;
do
you
want
anything
of
me
?
"
The
Seraph
had
a
vivid
terror
of
people
who
"
wanted
him
,
"
in
the
subscription
,
not
the
police
,
sense
of
the
word
;
and
had
been
the
victim
of
frauds
innumerable
.
"
I
wished
,
"
returned
Baroni
,
respectfully
,
but
with
sufficient
independence
to
conciliate
his
auditor
,
whom
he
saw
at
a
glance
cringing
subservience
would
disgust
,
"
to
have
the
opportunity
of
asking
your
Lordship
a
very
simple
question
.
"
The
Seraph
looked
a
little
bored
,
a
little
amused
.
"
Well
,
ask
it
,
my
good
fellow
;
you
have
your
opportunity
!
"
he
said
,
impatiently
,
yet
good
humoured
still
.
"
Then
would
you
,
my
Lord
,
"
continued
the
Jew
,
with
his
strong
Hebrew-German
accent
,
"
be
so
good
as
to
favour
me
by
saying
whether
this
signature
be
your
own
?
"
The
Jew
held
before
him
a
folded
paper
,
so
folded
that
one
line
only
was
visible
,
across
which
was
dashed
in
bold
characters
,
Rockingham
.
The
Seraph
put
up
his
eye-glass
,
stooped
,
and
took
a
steadfast
look
,
then
shook
his
head
.
"
No
;
that
is
not
mine
;
at
least
,
I
think
not
.
Never
made
my
R
half
a
quarter
so
well
in
my
life
.
"
"
Many
thanks
,
my
Lord
,
"
said
Baroni
,
quietly
.
"
One
question
more
and
we
can
substantiate
the
fact
.
Did
your
Lordship
endorse
any
bill
on
the
15th
of
last
month
?
"
The
Seraph
looked
surprised
,
and
reflected
a
moment
.
"
No
,
I
did
n't
,
"
he
said
,
after
a
pause
;
"
I
have
done
it
for
men
,
but
not
on
that
day
.
I
was
shooting
at
Hornsey
Wood
most
of
it
,
if
I
remember
right
.
Why
do
you
ask
?
"
"
I
will
tell
you
,
my
Lord
,
if
you
grant
me
a
private
interview
.
"
The
Seraph
moved
away
.
"
Never
do
that
,
"
he
said
,
briefly
.
"
Private
interviews
,
"
thought
he
,
acting
on
past
experience
,
"
with
women
always
mean
proposals
,
and
with
men
always
mean
extortion
.
"
Baroni
made
a
quick
movement
towards
him
.
"
An
instant
,
my
Lord
!
This
intimately
concerns
yourself
.
The
steps
of
an
hotel
is
surely
not
the
place
in
which
to
speak
of
it
?
"
"
I
wish
to
hear
nothing
about
it
,
"
replied
Rock
,
putting
him
aside
;
while
he
thought
to
himself
regretfully
,
"
That
is
'
stiff
,
'
that
bit
of
paper
;
perhaps
some
poor
wretch
is
in
a
scrape
.
I
wish
I
had
n't
so
wholly
denied
my
signature
.
If
the
mischief
's
done
,
there
's
no
good
in
bothering
the
fellow
.
"
The
Seraph
's
good
nature
was
apt
to
overlook
such
trifles
as
the
Law
.
Baroni
kept
pace
with
him
as
he
approached
the
hotel
door
,
and
spoke
very
low
.
"
My
Lord
,
if
you
do
not
listen
,
worse
may
befall
the
reputation
both
of
your
regiment
and
your
friends
.
"
The
Seraph
swung
round
,
his
careless
handsome
face
set
stern
in
an
instant
,
his
blue
eyes
grave
,
and
gathering
an
ominous
fire
.
"
Step
yonder
,
"
said
,
curtly
,
signing
the
Hebrew
towards
the
grand
staircase
.
"
Show
that
person
to
my
rooms
,
Alexis
.
"
But
for
the
publicity
of
the
entrance
of
the
Badischer
Hof
the
mighty
right
arm
of
the
Guardsman
might
have
terminated
the
interview
then
and
there
in
different
fashion
.
Baroni
had
gained
his
point
,
and
was
ushered
into
the
fine
chambers
set
apart
for
the
future
Duke
of
Lyonnesse
;
the
Seraph
strode
after
him
,
and
as
the
attendant
closed
the
door
and
left
them
alone
in
the
first
of
the
great
lofty
suite
,
all
glittering
with
gilding
,
and
ormolu
,
and
malachite
,
and
rose
velvet
,
and
Parisian
taste
,
stood
like
a
tower
above
the
Jew
's
small
,
slight
form
;
while
his
words
came
curtly
,
and
only
by
a
fierce
effort
,
through
his
lips
.
"
Substantiate
what
you
dare
to
say
,
or
my
grooms
shall
throw
you
out
of
that
window
!
—
Now
?
"
Baroni
looked
up
unmoved
.
The
calm
,
steady
,
undisturbed
glance
sent
a
chill
over
the
Seraph
;
he
thought
if
this
man
came
but
for
purposes
of
extortion
,
and
were
not
fully
sure
that
he
could
make
good
what
he
had
said
,
this
was
not
the
look
he
would
give
.
"
I
desire
nothing
better
,
my
Lord
,
"
said
Baroni
,
quietly
,
"
though
I
greatly
regret
to
be
the
messenger
of
such
an
errand
.
This
bill
,
which
in
a
moment
I
will
have
the
honour
of
showing
you
,
was
transacted
by
my
house
(
I
am
one
of
the
partners
of
a
London
discounting
firm
)
,
endorsed
thus
by
your
celebrated
name
.
Moneys
were
lent
on
it
,
the
bill
was
made
payable
at
two
months
'
date
,
it
was
understood
that
you
accepted
it
,
there
could
be
no
risk
with
such
a
signature
as
yours
.
The
bill
was
negotiated
,
I
was
in
Leyden
,
Lubeck
,
and
other
places
at
the
period
,
I
heard
nothing
of
the
matter
;
when
I
returned
to
London
,
a
little
less
than
a
week
ago
,
I
saw
the
signature
for
the
first
time
.
I
was
at
once
aware
that
it
was
not
yours
,
for
I
had
some
paid
bills
,
signed
by
you
,
at
hand
,
with
which
I
compared
it
.
Of
course
,
my
only
remedy
was
to
seek
you
out
,
although
I
was
nearly
certain
before
your
present
denial
that
the
bill
was
a
forgery
.
"
He
spoke
quite
tranquilly
still
,
with
a
perfectly
respectful
regret
,
but
with
the
air
of
a
man
who
has
his
title
to
be
heard
,
and
is
acting
simply
in
his
own
clear
right
.
The
Seraph
listened
,
restless
,
impatient
,
sorely
tried
to
keep
the
passion
in
which
had
been
awakened
by
the
hint
that
this
wretched
matter
could
concern
or
attaint
the
honour
of
his
corps
.
"
Well
!
speak
out
!
"
he
said
,
impatiently
.
"
Details
are
nothing
.
Who
drew
it
?
Who
forged
my
name
,
if
it
be
forged
?
Quick
!
give
me
the
paper
.
"
"
With
every
trust
and
every
deference
,
my
Lord
,
I
cannot
let
the
bill
pass
out
of
my
own
hands
until
this
unfortunate
matter
be
cleared
up
—
if
cleared
up
it
can
be
.
Your
Lordship
shall
see
the
bill
,
however
,
of
course
,
spread
here
upon
the
table
,
but
first
let
me
warn
you
,
my
Lord
Marquis
,
that
the
sight
will
be
intensely
painful
to
you
.
"
"
Painful
to
me
!
"
"
Very
painful
,
my
Lord
,
"
added
Baroni
,
impressively
.
"
Prepare
yourself
for
—
—
"
Rock
dashed
his
hand
down
on
the
marble
table
with
a
force
that
made
the
lustres
and
statuettes
on
it
ring
and
tremble
.
"
No
more
words
!
Lay
the
bill
there
.
"
Baroni
bowed
and
smoothed
out
upon
the
console
the
crumpled
document
,
holding
it
with
one
hand
,
yet
leaving
visible
with
the
counterfeited
signature
one
other
—
the
name
of
the
forger
in
whose
favour
the
bill
was
drawn
.
That
other
signature
was
—
—
Bertie
Cecil
.
"
I
deeply
regret
to
deal
you
such
a
blow
from
such
a
friend
,
my
Lord
,
"
said
the
Jew
,
softly
.
The
Seraph
stooped
and
gazed
—
one
instant
of
horrified
amazement
kept
him
dumb
there
,
staring
at
the
written
paper
as
at
some
ghastly
thing
;
then
all
the
hot
blood
rushed
over
his
fair
,
bold
face
,
he
flung
himself
on
the
Hebrew
,
and
ere
the
other
could
have
breath
or
warning
tossed
him
upward
to
the
painted
ceiling
and
hurled
him
down
again
upon
the
velvet
carpet
,
as
lightly
as
a
retriever
will
catch
up
and
let
fall
a
wild
duck
or
a
grouse
,
and
stood
over
Baroni
where
he
lay
.
"
You
hound
!
"
Baroni
,
lying
passive
and
breathless
with
the
violence
of
the
shock
and
the
surprise
,
yet
keeping
,
even
amidst
the
hurricane
of
wrath
that
had
tossed
him
upward
and
downward
as
the
winds
toss
leaves
,
his
hold
upon
the
document
,
and
his
clear
,
cool
,
ready
self-possession
.
"
My
Lord
,
"
he
said
,
faintly
,
"
I
do
not
wonder
at
your
excitement
,
aggressive
as
it
renders
you
;
but
I
cannot
admit
that
false
which
I
know
to
be
a
for
—
—
"
"
Silence
!
Say
that
word
once
more
and
I
shall
forget
myself
,
and
hurl
you
out
into
the
street
like
the
dog
of
a
Jew
you
are
!
"
"
Have
patience
an
instant
,
my
Lord
.
Will
it
profit
your
friend
and
brother-in-arms
if
it
be
afterwards
said
that
when
this
charge
was
brought
against
him
,
you
,
my
Lord
Rockingham
,
had
so
little
faith
in
his
power
to
refute
it
that
you
bore
down
with
all
your
mighty
strength
in
a
personal
assault
upon
one
so
weakly
as
myself
,
and
sought
to
put
an
end
to
the
evidence
against
him
by
bodily
threats
against
my
safety
,
and
by
—
what
will
look
legally
,
my
Lord
,
like
—
an
attempt
to
coerce
me
into
silence
,
and
to
obtain
the
paper
from
my
hands
by
violence
?
"
Faint
and
hoarse
the
words
were
,
but
they
were
spoken
with
quiet
confidence
,
with
admirable
acumen
;
they
were
the
very
words
to
lash
the
passions
of
his
listener
into
unendurable
fire
,
yet
to
chain
them
powerless
down
;
the
Guardsman
stood
above
him
,
his
features
flushed
and
dark
with
rage
,
his
eyes
literally
blazing
with
fury
,
his
lips
working
under
his
tawny
leonine
beard
.
At
every
syllable
he
could
have
thrown
himself
afresh
upon
the
Jew
and
flung
him
out
of
his
presence
as
so
much
carrion
;
yet
the
impotence
that
truth
so
often
feels
caught
and
meshed
in
the
coils
of
subtlety
,
the
desperate
disadvantage
at
which
Right
is
so
often
placed
when
met
by
the
cunning
science
and
sophistry
of
Wrong
,
held
the
Seraph
in
their
net
now
.
He
saw
his
own
rashness
,
he
saw
how
his
actions
could
be
construed
till
they
cast
a
slur
even
on
the
man
he
defended
,
he
saw
how
legally
he
was
in
error
,
how
legally
the
gallant
vengeance
of
an
indignant
friendship
might
be
construed
into
consciousness
of
guilt
in
the
accused
for
whose
sake
the
vengeance
fell
.
He
stood
silent
,
overwhelmed
with
the
intensity
of
his
own
passion
,
baffled
by
the
ingenuity
of
a
serpent-wisdom
he
could
not
refute
.
Ezra
Baroni
saw
his
advantage
:
he
ventured
to
raise
himself
slightly
.
"
My
Lord
,
since
your
faith
in
your
friend
is
so
perfect
,
send
for
him
.
If
he
be
innocent
,
and
I
a
liar
,
with
a
look
I
shall
be
confounded
.
"
The
tone
was
perfectly
impassive
,
but
the
words
expressed
a
world
.
For
a
moment
the
Seraph
's
eyes
flashed
on
him
with
a
look
that
made
him
feel
nearer
his
death
than
he
had
been
near
to
it
in
all
his
days
;
but
Rockingham
restrained
himself
from
force
.
"
I
will
send
for
him
,
"
he
said
,
briefly
;
in
that
answer
there
was
more
of
menace
and
of
meaning
than
in
any
physical
action
.
He
moved
,
and
let
Baroni
rise
,
shaken
and
bruised
,
but
otherwise
little
seriously
hurt
,
and
still
holding
,
in
a
tenacious
grasp
,
the
crumpled
paper
.
He
rang
;
his
own
servant
answered
the
summons
.
"
Go
to
the
Stephanien
and
inquire
for
Mr.
Cecil
.
Be
quick
;
and
request
him
,
wherever
he
be
,
to
be
so
good
as
to
come
to
me
instantly
—
here
.
"
The
servant
bowed
and
withdrew
;
a
perfect
silence
followed
between
these
two
so
strangely
assorted
companions
;
the
Seraph
stood
with
his
back
against
the
mantelpiece
,
with
every
sense
on
the
watch
to
catch
every
movement
of
the
Jew
's
,
and
to
hear
the
first
sound
of
Cecil
's
approach
.
The
minutes
dragged
on
,
the
Seraph
was
in
an
agony
of
probation
and
impatience
.
Once
the
attendants
entered
to
light
the
chandeliers
and
candelabra
;
the
full
light
fell
on
the
dark
,
slight
form
of
the
Hebrew
,
and
on
the
superb
attitude
,
and
the
fair
,
frank
,
proud
face
of
the
standing
Guardsman
;
neither
moved
.
Once
more
they
were
left
alone
.
The
moments
ticked
slowly
away
one
by
one
,
audible
in
the
silence
.
Now
and
then
the
quarters
chimed
from
the
clock
;
it
was
the
only
sound
in
the
chamber
.
CHAPTER
XI
.
FOR
A
WOMAN
'S
SAKE
.
The
door
opened
.
—
Cecil
entered
.
The
Seraph
crossed
the
room
,
with
his
hand
held
out
;
not
for
his
life
in
that
moment
would
he
have
omitted
that
gesture
of
friendship
.
Involuntarily
he
started
and
stood
still
one
instant
in
amaze
;
the
next
he
flung
thought
away
,
and
dashed
into
swift
,
inconsequent
words
.
"
Cecil
,
my
dear
fellow
!
—
I
'm
ashamed
to
send
for
you
on
such
a
blackguard
errand
.
Never
heard
of
such
a
swindler
's
trick
in
all
my
life
;
could
n't
pitch
the
fellow
into
the
street
because
of
the
look
of
the
thing
,
and
ca
n't
take
any
other
measures
without
you
,
you
know
.
I
only
sent
for
you
to
expose
the
whole
abominable
business
,
never
because
I
believe
—
—
Hang
it
!
Beauty
,
I
ca
n't
bring
myself
to
say
it
even
!
If
a
sound
thrashing
would
have
settled
the
matter
,
I
would
n't
have
bothered
you
about
it
,
nor
told
you
a
syllable
.
Only
you
are
sure
,
Bertie
,
are
n't
you
,
that
I
never
listened
to
this
miserable
outrage
on
us
both
with
a
second
's
thought
there
could
be
truth
in
it
?
You
know
me
?
You
trust
me
too
well
not
to
be
certain
of
that
?
"
The
incoherent
address
poured
out
from
his
lips
in
a
breathless
torrent
;
he
had
never
been
so
excited
in
his
life
;
and
he
pleaded
with
as
imploring
an
earnestness
as
though
he
had
been
the
suspected
criminal
,
not
to
be
accused
with
having
one
shadow
of
shameful
doubt
against
his
friend
.
His
words
would
have
told
nothing
except
bewilderment
to
one
who
should
have
been
a
stranger
to
the
subject
on
which
he
spoke
;
yet
Cecil
never
asked
even
what
he
meant
.
There
was
no
surprise
upon
his
face
,
no
flush
of
anger
,
no
expression
of
amaze
or
indignation
,
only
the
look
which
had
paralysed
Rock
on
his
entrance
;
he
stood
still
and
mute
.
The
Seraph
looked
at
him
,
a
great
dread
seizing
him
lest
he
should
have
seemed
himself
to
cast
this
foul
thing
on
his
brother-in-arms
;
and
in
that
dread
all
the
fierce
fire
of
his
freshly-loosened
passion
broke
its
bounds
.
"
Damnation
!
Cecil
,
ca
n't
you
hear
me
?
A
hound
has
brought
against
you
the
vilest
charge
that
ever
swindlers
framed
:
an
infamy
that
he
deserves
to
be
shot
for
,
as
if
he
were
a
dog
.
He
makes
me
stand
before
you
as
if
I
were
your
accuser
;
as
if
I
doubted
you
;
as
if
I
lent
an
ear
one
second
to
his
loathsome
lie
.
I
sent
for
you
to
confront
him
,
and
to
give
him
up
to
the
law
.
Stand
out
,
you
scoundrel
,
and
let
us
see
how
you
dare
look
at
us
now
!
"
He
swung
round
at
the
last
words
,
and
signed
to
Baroni
to
rise
from
the
couch
where
he
sat
.
The
Jew
advanced
slowly
,
softly
.
"
If
your
Lordship
will
pardon
me
,
you
have
scarcely
made
it
apparent
what
the
matter
is
for
which
this
gentleman
is
wanted
.
You
have
scarcely
explained
to
him
that
it
is
on
a
charge
of
forgery
.
"
The
Seraph
's
eyes
flashed
on
him
with
a
light
like
a
lion
's
,
and
his
right
hand
clenched
hard
.
"
By
my
life
!
if
you
say
that
word
again
you
shall
be
flung
in
the
street
,
like
the
cur
you
are
,
let
me
pay
what
I
will
for
it
.
Cecil
,
why
do
n't
you
speak
?
"
Bertie
had
not
moved
;
not
a
breath
escaped
his
lips
.
He
stood
like
a
statue
,
deadly
pale
in
the
gaslight
;
when
the
figure
of
Baroni
rose
up
and
came
before
him
,
a
great
darkness
stole
on
his
face
—
it
was
a
terrible
bitterness
,
a
great
horror
,
a
loathing
disgust
;
but
it
was
scarcely
criminality
,
and
it
was
not
fear
.
Still
he
stood
perfectly
silent
—
a
guilty
man
,
any
other
than
his
loyal
friend
would
have
said
;
guilty
,
and
confronted
with
a
just
accuser
.
The
Seraph
saw
that
look
,
and
a
deadly
chill
passed
over
him
,
as
it
had
done
at
the
Jew
's
first
charge
—
not
doubt
;
such
heresy
to
his
creeds
,
such
shame
to
his
comrade
and
his
corps
could
not
be
in
him
,
but
a
vague
dread
hushed
his
impetuous
vehemence
.
The
dignity
of
the
old
Lyonnesse
blood
asserted
its
ascendancy
.
"
Monsieur
Baroni
,
make
your
statement
.
Later
on
,
Mr.
Cecil
can
avenge
it
.
"
Cecil
never
moved
;
once
his
eyes
went
to
Rockingham
with
a
look
of
yearning
,
grateful
,
unendurable
pain
,
but
it
was
repressed
instantly
;
a
perfect
passiveness
was
on
him
.
The
Jew
smiled
.
"
My
statement
is
easily
made
,
and
will
not
be
so
new
to
this
gentleman
as
it
was
to
your
Lordship
.
I
simply
charge
the
Honourable
Bertie
Cecil
with
having
negotiated
a
bill
with
my
firm
for
750
l
,
on
the
15th
of
last
month
,
drawn
in
his
own
favour
,
and
accepted
at
two
months
'
date
by
your
Lordship
.
Your
signature
you
,
my
Lord
Marquis
,
admit
to
be
a
forgery
—
with
that
forgery
I
charge
your
friend
.
"
"
The
15th
!
"
The
echo
of
those
words
alone
escaped
the
dry
white
lips
of
Cecil
;
he
showed
no
amaze
,
no
indignation
;
once
only
,
as
the
charge
was
made
,
he
gave
a
sudden
gesture
,
with
a
sudden
gleam
,
so
dark
,
so
dangerous
,
in
his
eyes
,
that
his
comrade
