"I am glad the beggar fired at him," thought Tom. "One spice of danger, and he's himself again, and will overawe the poor cur by mere civility. I was afraid of some abject methodist parson humility, which would give the other party a handle." Elsley heard him with a stupefied look, like that of a trapped wild beast, in which rage, shame, suspicion, and fear, were mingled with the vacant glare of the opium-eater's eye. Then his eye drooped beneath Campbell's steady gentle gaze, and he looked uneasily round the room, still like a trapped wild beast, as if for a hole to escape by; then up again, but sidelong, at Major Campbell. "I assure you, sir, on the word of a Christian and a soldier, that you are labouring under an entire misapprehension. For God's sake and Mrs. Vavasour's sake, come back, sir, to those who will receive you with nothing but affection! Your wife has been all but dead; she thinks of no one but you, asks for no one but you. In God's name, sir, what are you doing here, while a wife who adores you is dying from your--I do not wish to be rude, sir, but let me say at least--neglect?" Elsley looked at him still askance, puzzled, inquiring. Suddenly his great beautiful eyes opened to preternatural wideness, as if trying to grasp a new thought. He started, shifted his feet to and fro, his arms straight down by his sides, his fingers clutching after something. Then he looked up hurriedly again at Campbell; and Thurnall looked at him also; and his face was as the face of an angel. "Miserable ass!" thought Tom, "if he don't see innocence in that man's countenance, he wouldn't see it in his own child's." Elsley suddenly turned his back to them, and thrust his hand into his bosom. Now was Tom's turn. In a moment he had vaulted over the table, and seized Elsley's wrist, ere he could draw the second pistol. "No, my dear Jack," whispered he quietly, "once is enough in a day!" "Not for him, Tom, for myself!" moaned Elsley. "For neither, dear lad! Let bygones be bygones, and do you be a new man, and go home to Mrs. Vavasour." "Never, never, never, never, never, never!" shrieked Elsley like a baby, every word increasing in intensity, till the whole house rang; and then threw himself into the crazy chair, and dashed his head between his hands upon the table. "This is a case for me, Major Campbell. I think you had better go now." "You will not leave him?" "No, sir. It is a very curious psychological study, and he is a Whitbury man." Campbell knew quite enough of the would-be cynical doctor, to understand what all that meant. He came up to Elsley. "Mr. Vavasour, I am going to the war, from which I expect never to return. If you believe me, give me your hand before I go." Elsley, without lifting his head, beat on the table with his hand. "I wish to die at peace with you and all the world. I am innocent in word, in thought. I shall not insult another person by saying that she is so. If you believe me, give me your hand."