“For what reason?” “Do you repeat me to gain time, groping for an excuse? Do you, I say?” “You are full of questions. Will you have me answer them in one, or one by one? Zounds, man, behave less like a pea dancing on a drum.” “Now, by God, George----!” He set his teeth, hissed in his breath, shook his fists at nothing at all, and fell suddenly calm. “I’ll be reasonable,” he said, apostrophizing space--“quite temperate and reasonable. Is it reasonable to suppose that one, a family connection and my friend, in my close confidence, could make such an admission without some motive designed to serve me--unless, indeed, it pointed to a treachery on his part so black as to constitute a devilry unthinkable?” Hamilton’s brow corrugated. By a curious psychological perversity he felt as much incensed over the insinuation as if there had actually been no warrant for it. Such is often the case with your wrongdoer; he will justify himself to himself, while remaining perfectly firm on the question of abstract morality. “You are a master of reason, Phil, we know,” said he, with a sneer; “the which, if I doubted, would not your proviso convince me? So, I have openly confessed my hand--to beguile you to an infatuation that should leave the coast clear for me--_me_--to play the villain?” “I never said so.” “O! did you not?” “I said specifically the thing was unthinkable.” “Showing you had thought of it.” “George, don’t torture me. You said, you know, it was a pity I was not more really touched.” “I say it again.” “Why, in God’s name?” “So your attitude would be more convincing. As it is, the hollow pretence of it would not deceive a child.” “Is that all you meant? Forgive my words to you--I am so torn and harassed--and you are my only friend, I think. I’ll try to be more natural with the wretch; more--more convincing, damn her! Yet I drove it home with Kate the other night; you saw how she left the room?” “There you are! because for the moment you were really what you had pretended to be--under the spell. Could you ask a better proof?” “No, that’s true. But it’s hard to feign the fire you do not feel.” Hamilton laughed indulgently. “You take things too seriously. Convince yourself you do not care whatever happens, and Fortune will be kind to you. It is the jade’s way, being a woman. Indifference to her is the only thing she cannot resist. And it isn’t as if the fruit you were asked to handle were rotten medlers. Here’s a sweet country nectarine for which a very epicure might envy you.” “A country crab, I think, as biting as she’s little. Well?” “Well, is this to forget yourself in livelier company? Marry, Phil, if you can laugh at nothing else, laugh at yourself--always the best fool in a man’s household. But, come, I’ll give you distraction. Here’s a story just on the town of two rogue apothecaries, partners, which might point the moral of an Æsop’s fable. Have you heard it?”