"Go: act as a man who claims such descent as ours should do, in the
country which opened to him its arms, and whose laws he has
transgressed. The police are here from London. Go and give yourself
up; suffer your punishment as one who would atone, and years hence in
the future, when you are freed, come to me and ask my pardon--kneeling
humbly by my grave."
"Father!"
"No more. The way is open now. Go at once, before you are dragged
through the streets handcuffed like some common felon. To save us from
disgrace you say--that is the only way."
He stood erect, with his eyes flashing, knit brows, and nostrils
quivering, pointing to the door, while with his left arm he supported
Louise, whose face gazed wildly into his, no mean representative of that
_Haute Noblesse_ which had sought refuge here when persecution drove
them from their land.
"Father! Harry!" cried Louise, but only the latter spoke.
"Yes," he said, drawing himself up. "You are right, I'll go."
He strode quickly toward the door; but before he reached it, Liza threw
it back.
"Miss Louise," she cried, "the police!"
With hasty stride the old man rushed to the door and thrust it to.
"Oh!" he gasped, and then after a pause there was one low, hoarse appeal
to heaven for aid, "My God!"
The adjuration spoke volumes, and for a few moments the old man stood
there as if in a cataleptic state. Then a change came over him, his
pale face flushed, the veins in his forehead stood out and throbbed, and
he dashed to his son.
"Quick, Harry! France!"
As he spoke Harry broke from him and dashed to the window, threw it
open, and was about to spring out, but he drew back. There was no fancy
this time; two policemen could be dimly seen below.
"Too late, father," he said calmly.
"No, my boy! this way, hush!"
He snatched open the door, and a quick-looking, well-knit man stood
framed in the entry.
"Ah!" he said sharply, as he fixed Harry with his eye, "Mr Henry Vine,
I arrest you on a warrant. Robbery and attempt to murder."
"No," roared the father frantically, and he flung himself upon the
officer. "Run, Harry, run!"
Louise stood clinging to the ironwork of her bedstead, sick with horror,
as a terrible struggle ensued. It only lasted a few moments; and as she
saw her father and the detective officer wrestling together, her brother
clenched his fists, set his teeth, and dashed at them.
"_No_, no; run!" roared the father in a voice she did not know; and in
obedience, Harry dashed through the doorway and was gone.
"You're mad, old man!" cried the detective, tearing himself free,
drawing back, and then rushing towards the door.
But with a wonderful display of activity and vigour, the old naturalist
sprang at him once more, and with clenched fist struck him so fierce a
blow full on the cheek that the man swerved sideways, and would have
fallen but for the wall.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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