The Disowned — Volume 03Lytton, Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron
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The Disowned — Volume 03
Lytton, Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron
English fiction -- 19th century
At that instant the watchman's voice was heard, and the night's
guardian himself was seen hastening from the far end of the street
towards the place of contest. Whether this circumstance, or Clarence's
answer, somewhat changed the current of the republican's thoughts, or
whether his anger, suddenly raised, was now as suddenly subsiding, it
is not easy to decide; but he slowly and deliberately moved his foot
from the breast of his baffled foe, and bending down seemed
endeavouring to ascertain the mischief he had done. Lord Borodaile
was perfectly insensible.
"You have killed him!" cried Clarence in a voice of horror, "but you
shall not escape;" and he placed a desperate and nervous hand on the
republican.
"Stand off," said Wolfe, "my blood is up! I would not do more
violence to-night than I have done. Stand off! the man moves; see!"
And Lord Borodaile, uttering a long sigh, and attempting to rise,
Clarence released his hold of the republican, and bent down to assist
the fallen nobleman. Meanwhile, Wolfe, muttering to himself, turned
from the spot, and strode haughtily away.
The watchman now came up, and, with his aid, Clarence raised Lord
Borodaile. Bruised, stunned, half insensible as he was, that
personage lost none of his characteristic stateliness; he shook off
the watchman's arm, as if there was contamination in the touch; and
his countenance, still menacing and defying in its expression, turned
abruptly towards Clarence, as if he yet expected to meet and struggle
with a foe.
"How are you, my lord?" said Linden; "not severely hurt, I trust?"
"Well, quite well," cried Borodaile. "Mr. Linden, I think?--I thank
you cordially for your assistance; but the dog, the rascal, where is
he?"
"Gone," said Clarence.
"Gone! Where--where?" cried Borodaile; "that living man should insult
me, and yet escape!"
"Which way did the fellow go?" said the watchman, anticipative of
half-a-crown. "I will run after him in a trice, your honour: I
warrant I nab him."
"No--no--" said Borodaile, haughtily, "I leave my quarrels to no man;
if I could not master him myself, no one else shall do it for me. Mr.
Linden, excuse me, but I am perfectly recovered, and can walk very
well without your polite assistance. Mr. Watchman, I am obliged to
you: there is a guinea to reward your trouble."
With these words, intended as a farewell, the proud patrician,
smothering his pain, bowed with extreme courtesy to Clarence, again
thanked him, and walked on unaided and alone.
"He is a game blood," said the watchman, pocketing the guinea.
"He is worthy his name," thought Clarence; "though he was in the
wrong, my heart yearns to him."
CHAPTER XXXV.
Things wear a vizard which I think to like not.--Tanner of Tyburn.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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