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stood the man whose presence； of all mankind； in any place； and
least of all in that； he could the least endure。
Although his blood so rose against this man； and his wrath so
stirred within him； that he could have struck him dead； he put
such fierce constraint upon himself that he passed him without a
word or look。 Yes； and he would have gone on； and not turned；
though to resist the Devil who poured such hot temptation in his
brain； required an effort scarcely to be achieved； if this man had
not himself summoned him to stop： and that； with an assumed
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compassion in his voice which drove him well…nigh mad； and in an
instant routed all the self…command it had been anguish—acute；
poignant anguish—to sustain。
All consideration； reflection； mercy； forbearance； everything by
which a goaded man can curb his rage and passion； fled from him
as he turned back。 And yet he said； slowly and quite calmly—far
more calmly than he had ever spoken to him before：
‘Why have you called to me？’
‘To remark；’ said Sir John Chester with his wonted composure；
‘what an odd chance it is； that we should meet here！’
‘It is a strange chance。’
‘Strange？ The most remarkable and singular thing in the world。
I never ride in the evening； I have not done so for years。 The whim
seized me； quite unaccountably； in the middle of last night。—How
very picturesque this is！’—He pointed； as he spoke； to the
dismantled house； and raised his glass to his eye。
‘You praise your own work very freely。’
Sir John let fall his glass； inclined his face towards him with an
air of the most courteous inquiry； and slightly shook his head as
though he were remarking to himself； ‘I fear this animal is going
mad！’
‘I say you praise your own work very freely；’ repeated Mr
Haredale。
‘Work！’ echoed Sir John； looking smilingly round。 ‘Mine！—I beg
your pardon； I really beg your pardon—’
‘Why； you see；’ said Mr Haredale； ‘those walls。 You see those
tottering gables。 You see on every side where fire and smoke have
raged。 You see the destruction that has been wanton here。 Do you
not？’
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‘My good friend；’ returned the knight； gently checking his
impatience with his hand； ‘of course I do。 I see everything you
speak of； when you stand aside； and do not interpose yourself
between the view and me。 I am very sorry for you。 If I had not had
the pleasure to meet you here； I think I should have written to tell
you so。 But you don’t bear it as well as I had expected—excuse
me—no； you don’t indeed。’
He pulled out his snuff…box； and addressing him with the
superior air of a man who； by reason of his higher nature； has a
right to read a moral lesson to another； continued：
‘For you are a philosopher； you know—one of that stern and
rigid school who are far above the weaknesses of mankind in
general。 You are removed； a long way； from the frailties of the
crowd。 You contemplate them from a height； and rail at them with
a most impressive bitterness。 I have heard you。’
—‘And shall again；’ said Mr Haredale。
‘Thank you；’ returned the other。 ‘Shall we walk as we talk？ The
damp falls rather heavily。 Well；—as you please。 But I grieve to say
that I can spare you only a very few moments。’
‘I would；’ said Mr Haredale； ‘you had spared me none。 I would；
with all my soul； you had been in Paradise （if such a monstrous lie
could be enacted）； rather than here to…night。’
‘Nay；’ returned the other—‘really—you do yourself injustice。
You are a rough companion； but I would not go so far to avoid
you。’
‘Listen to me；’ said Mr Haredale。 ‘Listen to me。’
‘While you rail？’ inquired Sir John。
‘While I deliver your infamy。 You urged and stimulated to do
your work a fit agent； but one who in his nature—in the very
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essence of his being—is a traitor； and who has been false to you
（despite the sympathy you two should have together） as he has
been to all others。 With hints； and looks； and crafty words； which
told again are nothing； you set on Gashford to this work—this
work before us now。 With these same hints； and looks； and crafty
words； which told again are nothing； you urged him on to gratify
the deadly hate he owes me—I have earned it； I thank Heaven—by
the abduction and dishonour of my niece。 You did。 I see denial in
your looks；’ he cried； abruptly pointing in his face； and stepping
back； ‘and denial is a lie！’
He had his hand upon his sword； but the knight； with a
contemptuous smile； replied to him as coldly as before。
‘You will take notice； sir—if you can discriminate sufficiently—
that I have taken the trouble to deny nothing。 Your discernment is
hardly fine enough for the perusal of faces； not of a kind as coarse
as your speech； nor has it ever been； that I remember； or； in one
face that I could name； you would have read indifference； not to
say disgust； somewhat sooner than you did。 I speak of a long time
ago；—but you understand me。’
‘Disguise it as you will； you mean denial。 Denial explicit or
reserved； expressed or left to be inferred； is still a lie。 You say you
don’t deny。 Do you admit？’
‘You yourself；’ returned Sir John； suffering the current of his
speech to flow as smoothly as if it had been stemmed by no one
word of interruption； ‘publicly proclaimed the character of the
gentleman in question （I think it was in Westminster Hall） in
terms which relieve me from the necessity of making any further
allusion to him。 You may have been warranted； you may not have
been； I can’t say。 Assuming