Volume Ii Part 63 (1/2)
”I don't know that,” said Mr. Carleton, gravely. ”We have it on the highest authority that it is the glory of man to _pa.s.s by_ a transgression.”
”But you can't go by that,” said Charlton, a little fidgeted; ”the world wouldn't get along so; men must take care of themselves.”
”Certainly. But what part of themselves is cared for in this resenting of injuries?”
”Why, their good name!”
”As how affected? ? pardon me.”
”By the world's opinion,” said Rossitur; ”which stamps every man with something worse than infamy who cannot protect his own standing.”
”That is to say,” said Mr. Carleton, seriously, ”that Captain Rossitur will punish a fool's words with death, or visit the last extremity of distress upon those who are dearest to him, rather than leave the world in any doubt of his prowess.”
”Mr. Carleton!” said Rossitur, colouring ? ”what do you mean by speaking so, Sir?”
”Not to displease you, Captain Rossitur.”
”Then you count the world's opinion for nothing?”
”For less than nothing ? compared with the regards I have named.”
”You would brave it without scruple?”
”I do not call him a brave man who would not, Sir.”
”I remember,” said Charlton, half laughing ? ”you did it yourself once; and I must confess I believe n.o.body thought you lost anything by it.”
”But forgive me for asking,” said Mr. Carleton ? ”is this terrible world a party to _this_ matter? In the request which I made ? and which I have not given up, Sir ? do I presume upon any more than the sacrifice of a little private feeling?”
”Why, yes,” said Charlton, looking somewhat puzzled, ”for I promised the fellow I would see to it, and I must keep my word.”
”And you know how that will of necessity issue.”
”I can't consider that, Sir; that is a secondary matter. I must do what I told him I would.”
”At all hazards?” said Mr. Carleton.
”What hazards?”
”Not hazard, but certainty ? of incurring a reckoning far less easy to deal with.”
”What, do you mean with yourself?” said Rossitur.
”No, Sir, said Mr. Carleton, a shade of even sorrowful expression crossing his face; ”I mean with one whose displeasure is a more weighty matter; one who has declared very distinctly, 'Thou shalt not kill.' ”
”I am sorry for it,” said Rossitur, after a disturbed pause of some minutes ? ”I wish you had asked me anything else; but we can't take this thing in the light you do, Sir. I wish Thorn had been in any spot of the world but at Mrs. Decatur's, last night, or that Fleda hadn't taken me there; but since he was, there is no help for it ? I must make him account for his behaviour, to her as well as to me. I really don't know how to help it, Sir.”
”Let me beg you to reconsider that,” Mr. Carleton said, with a smile which disarmed offence ? ”for, if you will not help it, I must.”
Charlton looked in doubt for a moment, and then asked how he would help it.