“Of nothing that your own heart does not accuse you,” said David. And
somehow there was more than human indignation in the gaze now: there was
pity, a sense of shame for another soul who could lower himself to do
unseemly things. Before that look the blood crept into Harry’s cheek
again. An uncomfortable sensation entirely new was stealing over him. A
sense of sin—no, not that exactly,—a sense that he had made a mistake,
perhaps. He never was very hard upon himself even when the evidence was
clear against him. It angered him to feel humiliated. What a fuss to make
about a little thing! What a tiresome old cad to care about a little
flirtation with his wife! He wished he had let the pretty baby alone
entirely. She was of no finer stuff than many another who had accepted his
advances with pleasure. He stiffened his neck and replied with much
haughtiness:
“My heart accuses me of nothing, sir. I assure you I consider your words
an insult! I demand satisfaction for your insulting language, sir!” Harry
Temple had never fought a duel, and had never been present when others
fought, but that was the language in which a challenge was usually
delivered in French novels.
“It is not a matter for discussion!” said David Spafford, utterly ignoring
the other’s blustering words. “I am fully informed as to all that occurred
yesterday afternoon, and I tell you once more, it would be well for you to
leave town at once. I have nothing further to say.”
David turned and walked toward the door, and Harry stood, ignored, angry,
crestfallen, and watched him until he reached the door.
“You would better ask your informant further of her part in the matter!”
he hissed, suddenly, an open sneer in his voice and a covert implication
of deep meaning.
David turned, his face flashing with righteous indignation. The man who
was withered by the scorn of that glance wished heartily that he had not
uttered the false sentence. He felt the smallness of his own soul, during
the instant of silence in which his visitor stood looking at him.
Then David spoke deliberately:
“I knew you were a knave,” said he, “but I did not suppose you were also a
coward. A man who is not a coward will not try to put the blame upon a
woman, especially upon an innocent one. You, sir, will leave town this
evening. Any business further than you can settle between this and that I
will see properly attended to. I warn you, sir, it will be unwise for you
to remain longer than till the evening coach.”
Perfectly courteous were David’s tones, keen command was in his eye and
determination in every line of his face. Harry could not recover himself
to reply, could not master his frenzy of anger and humiliation to face the
righteous look of his accuser. Before he realized it, David was gone.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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