This
has been very irritating. I never at all meant to say anything of
the kind, and I apologise to you. I have all the esteem for you
that one gentleman should have for another. I only meant to tell
you--to show you what had influenced my mind; and that, in short,
the thing was impossible. One thing you may be quite sure of: I
shall do nothing against you. Will you shake hands before I go
away?' he blurted out.
'Yes,' said I, 'I agree with you--the interview has been
irritating. Let bygones be bygones. Good-bye, Ronald.'
'Good-bye, St. Ives!' he returned. 'I'm heartily sorry.'
And with that he was gone.
The windows of my own sitting-room looked towards the north; but
the entrance passage drew its light from the direction of the
square. Hence I was able to observe Ronald's departure, his very
disheartened gait, and the fact that he was joined, about half-way,
by no less a man than Major Chevenix. At this, I could scarce keep
from smiling; so unpalatable an interview must be before the pair
of them, and I could hear their voices, clashing like crossed
swords, in that eternal antiphony of 'I told you,' and 'I told you
not.' Without doubt, they had gained very little by their visit;
but then I had gained less than nothing, and had been bitterly
dispirited into the bargain.
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