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inspired ingenuity of hate； my uncle had once more closed his eyes；
nor did he open them now。 'Not with a shilling；' he contented
himself with replying； and there stole； as he said it； a sort of
smile over his face； that flickered there conspicuously for the
least moment of time； and then faded and left behind the old
impenetrable mask of years； cunning； and fatigue。 There could be
no mistake： my uncle enjoyed the situation as he had enjoyed few
things in the last quarter of a century。 The fires of life scarce
survived in that frail body； but hatred； like some immortal
quality； was still erect and unabated。
Nevertheless my cousin persevered。
'I speak at a disadvantage；' he resumed。 'My supplanter； with
perhaps more wisdom than delicacy； remains in the room；' and he
cast a glance at me that might have withered an oak tree。
I was only too willing to withdraw； and Romaine showed as much
alacrity to make way for my departure。 But my uncle was not to be
moved。 In the same breath of a voice； and still without opening
his eyes； he bade me remain。
'It is well；' said Alain。 'I cannot then go on to remind you of
the twenty years that have passed over our heads in England； and
the services I may have rendered you in that time。 It would be a
position too odious。 Your lordship knows me too well to suppose I
could stoop to such ignominy。 I must leave out all my defence …
your lordship wills it so！ I do not know what are my faults； I
know only my punishment； and it is greater than I have the courage
to face。 My uncle； I implore your pity： pardon me so far； do not
send me for life into a debtors' jail … a pauper debtor。'
'CHAT ET VIEUX； PARDONNEZ？' said my uncle； quoting from La
Fontaine； and then； opening a pale…blue eye full on Alain； he
delivered with some emphasis：
'La jeunesse se flatte et croit tout obtenir；
La vieillesse est impitoyable。'
The blood leaped darkly into Alain's face。 He turned to Romaine
and me； and his eyes flashed。
'It is your turn now；' he said。 'At least it shall be prison for
prison with the two viscounts。'
'Not so； Mr。 Alain； by your leave；' said Romaine。 'There are a few
formalities to be considered first。'
But Alain was already striding towards the door。
'Stop a moment； stop a moment！' cried Romaine。 'Remember your own
counsel not to despise an adversary。'
Alain turned。
'If I do not despise I hate you！' he cried； giving a loose to his
passion。 'Be warned of that； both of you。'
'I understand you to threaten Monsieur le Vicomte Anne；' said the
lawyer。 'Do you know； I would not do that。 I am afraid； I am very
much afraid； if you were to do as you propose； you might drive me
into extremes。'
'You have made me a beggar and a bankrupt；' said Alain。 What
extreme is left？'
'I scarce like to put a name upon it in this company；' replied
Romaine。 'But there are worse things than even bankruptcy； and
worse places than a debtors' jail。'
The words were so significantly said that there went a visible
thrill through Alain； sudden as a sword…stroke； he fell pale again。
'I do not understand you；' said he。
'O yes； you do；' returned Romaine。 'I believe you understand me
very well。 You must not suppose that all this time； while you were
so very busy； others were entirely idle。 You must not fancy；
because I am an Englishman； that I have not the intelligence to
pursue an inquiry。 Great as is my regard for the honour of your
house； M。 Alain de St。…Yves； if I hear of you moving directly or
indirectly in this matter； I shall do my duty； let it cost what it
will： that is； I shall communicate the real name of the
Buonapartist spy who signs his letters RUE GREGOIRE DE TOURS。'
I confess my heart was already almost altogether on the side of my
insulted and unhappy cousin； and if it had not been before； it must
have been so now； so horrid was the shock with which he heard his
infamy exposed。 Speech was denied him； he carried his hand to his
neckcloth； he staggered； I thought he must have fallen。 I ran to
help him； and at that he revived； recoiled before me； and stood
there with arms stretched forth as if to preserve himself from the
outrage of my touch。
'Hands off！' he somehow managed to articulate。
'You will now； I hope；' pursued the lawyer； without any change of
voice； 'understand the position in which you are placed； and how
delicately it behoves you to conduct yourself。 Your arrest hangs；
if I may so express myself； by a hair； and as you will be under the
perpetual vigilance of myself and my agents； you must look to it
narrowly that you walk straight。 Upon the least dubiety； I will
take action。' He snuffed； looking critically at the tortured man。
'And now let me remind you that your chaise is at the door。 This
interview is agitating to his lordship … it cannot be agreeable for
you … and I suggest that it need not be further drawn out。 It does
not enter into the views of your uncle； the Count； that you should
again sleep under this roof。'
As Alain turned and passed without a word or a sign from the
apartment； I instantly followed。 I suppose I must be at bottom
possessed of some humanity； at least； this accumulated torture；
this slow butchery of a man as by quarters of rock； had wholly
changed my sympathies。 At that moment I loathed both my uncle and
the lawyer for their coldblooded cruelty。
Leaning over the banisters； I was but in time to hear his hasty
footsteps in that hall that had been crowded with servants to
honour his coming； and was now left empty against his friendless
departure。 A moment later； and the echoes rang； and the air
whistled in my ears； as he slammed the door on his departing
footsteps。 The fury of the concussion gave me （had one been still
wanted） a measure of the turmoil of his passions。 In a sense； I
felt with him； I felt how he would have gloried to slam that door
on my uncle； the lawyer； myself； and the whole crowd of those who
had been witnesses to his humiliation。
CHAPTER XX … AFTER THE STORM
NO sooner was the house clear of my cousin than I began to reckon
up； ruefully enough； the probable results of what had passed。 Here
were a number of pots broken； and it looked to me as if I should
have to pay for all！ Here had been this proud； mad beast goaded
and baited both publicly and privately； till he could neither hear
nor see nor reason； whereupon the gate had been set open； and he
had been left free to go and contrive whatever vengeance he might
find possible。 I could not help thinking it was a pity that；
whenever I myself was inclined to be upon my good behaviour； some
friends of mine should always determine to play a piece of heroics
and cast me for the hero … or the victim … which is very much the
same。 The first duty of heroics