Remember what
I suffered--in the old days.... You see I'm frank with you. Help me.
We're neither of us growing younger. I'm mad for that girl, and I must
have her.'
Hugo put his hands into his pockets, and consulted his toes. This
semi-step-brother of his somehow aroused his compassion.
'No, Louis,' he said; 'I can't.'
'You hate me?'
'Not a bit.'
'Do you think I'm too old to marry, or what is it?'
'It's just like this, Louis, my friend: I have every intention of
marrying Miss Payne myself.'
'You!... Ah!... Indeed!'
'I have so decided. And when I decide, the thing is as good as done.'
'And that's why you were watching last night! Good! Oh, good! Only I
may as well inform you, Owen, that if Camilla Payne marries anyone but
me, there will be murder. And no ordinary murder, either!'
Hugo took a turn in the gallery. He felt genuinely sorry for the gray
and desperate man, driven by the intensity of emotion to utterances
which were merely absurd.
'Louis,' he remarked, with a melancholy kindliness of tone, 'fate has a
grudge against us two. It ruined our youth, and now it's embroiling us
once more. Can't we both be philosophical? Can't we contrive to look at
the thing in a--'
'Enough!' Ravengar almost yelled.
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