“I think you take too dreary a view of your fortune. It is not the sort of career I would choose, nor would it suit me, but if my lot had fallen that way, I suspect I’d not have found it so unendurable.” “No. It would not suit you. There’s no scope in a soldier’s life for those little sly practices, those small artifices of tact and ingenuity, by which subtlety does its work in this world. In such a career, all this adroitness would be clean thrown away.” “I hope,” said Loyd, with a faint smile, “that you do not imagine that these are the gifts to achieve success in any calling.” “I don’t know--I am not sure, but I rather suspect they find their place at the Bar.” “Take my word for it, then, you are totally mistaken. It is an error just as unworthy of your good sense as it is of your good feeling!” And he spoke with warmth and energy. “Hurrah! hurrah!” cried Calvert “For three months I have been exploring to find one spot in your whole nature that would respond fiercely to attack, and at last I have it.” “You put the matter somewhat offensively to me, or I’d not have replied in this fashion--but let us change the topic, it is an unpleasant one.” “I don’t think so. When a man nurtures what his friend believes to be a delusion, and a dangerous delusion, what better theme can there be than its discussion?” “I’ll not discuss it,” said Loyd, with determination. “You’ll not discuss it?” “No!” “What if I force you? What if I place the question on grounds so direct and so personal that you can’t help it?” “I don’t understand you.” “You shall presently. For some time back I have been thinking of asking an explanation from you--an explanation of your conduct at the villa. Before you had established an intimacy there, _I_ stood well with everyone. The old woman, with all her respect for my family and connexions, was profuse in her attentions. Of the girls, as I somewhat rashly confided to you, I had only to make my choice. I presented you to them, never anticipating that I was doing anything very dangerous to them or to myself, but I find I was wrong. I don’t want to descend to details, nor inquire how and by what arts you gained your influence; my case is simply with the fact that, since _you_ have been in favour, _I_ have been out of it My whole position with them is changed. I can only suggest now what I used to order, and I have the pleasure, besides, of seeing that even my suggestion must be submitted to you and await your approval.” “Have you finished?” said Loyd, calmly. “No, far from it! I could make my charge extend over hours long. In fact, I have only to review our lives here for the last six or seven weeks, to establish all I have been saying, and show you that you owe me an explanation, and something more than an explanation.” “Have you done now?” “If you mean, have I said all that I could say on this subject, no, far from it. You have not heard a fiftieth part of what I might say about it.”