CHAPTER V.

ction,familydespots,andsuchtrashandwhenIrosetoanswer,Iwasmetbyashoutfromthefilthymob,wherethementionofyournameenabledmeatoncetodetectthequarterinwhichthisbaseattackhadoriginated.WhenIlookedround,Isawthattreacherousvillain,Hunsdenactingasfugleman.IdetectedyouincloseconversationwithHunsdenatmyhouseamonthago,andIknowthatyouwereatHunsden’sroomslastnight.Denyitifyoudare.” “Oh,Ishallnotdenyit!AndifHunsdenhoundedonthepeopletohissyou,hedidquiteright.Youdeservepopularexecrationforaworseman,ahardermaster,amorebrutalbrotherthanyouarehasseldomexisted.” “Sirrah!sirrah!”reiteratedCrimsworthandtocompletehisapostrophe,hecrackedthewhipstraightovermyhead. Aminutesufficedtowrestitfromhim,breakitintwopieces,andthrowitunderthegrate.Hemadeaheadlongrushatme,whichIevaded,andsaid— “Touchme,andI’llhaveyouupbeforethenearestmagistrate.” MenlikeCrimsworth,iffirmlyandcalmlyresisted,alwaysabatesomethingoftheirexorbitantinsolencehehadnomindtobebroughtbeforeamagistrate,andIsupposehesawImeantwhatIsaid.Afteranoddandlongstareatme,atoncebull-likeandamazed,heseemedtobethinkhimselfthat,afterall,hismoneygavehimsufficientsuperiorityoverabeggarlikeme,andthathehadinhishandsasurerandmoredignifiedmodeofrevengethanthesomewhathazardousoneofpersonalchastisement. “Takeyourhat,”saidhe.“Takewhatbelongstoyou,andgooutatthatdoorgetawaytoyourparish,youpauper:beg,steal,starve,gettransported,dowhatyoulikebutatyourperilventureagainintomysight!IfeverIhearofyoursettingfootonaninchofgroundbelongingtome,I’llhireamantocaneyou.” “Itisnotlikelyyou’llhavethechanceonceoffyourpremises,whattemptationcanIhavetoreturntothem?Ileaveaprison,IleaveatyrantIleavewhatisworsethantheworstthatcanliebeforeme,sonofearofmycomingback.” “Go,orI’llmakeyou!”exclaimedCrimsworth. Iwalkeddeliberatelytomydesk,tookoutsuchofitscontentsasweremyownproperty,puttheminmypocket,lockedthedesk,andplacedthekeyonthetop. “Whatareyouabstractingfromthatdesk?”demandedthemillowner.“Leaveallbehindinitsplace,orI’llsendforapolicemantosearchyou.” “Looksharpaboutit,then,”saidI,andItookdownmyhat,drewonmygloves,andwalkedl