I am not mad. I sought but to rouse some
passion in you--either of fear or of anger. But, alas! I have not
sufficient power over you even for that. Sit down. I have something to
relate. When I have ended, these pistols may be useful for one or both
of us. But you do not fear them. I have long known that life was too
valueless to you for fear of losing it to make any impression.'
She saw that something unusual was impending--what she did not fully
understand, but calmly took her seat to await it. At this moment a
servant knocked and entered with a letter. I mechanically opened it and
read. It was an announcement from my partners that my inattention to the
business had involved us all in ruin. The clerk to whom I had entrusted
it (the sporting character before mentioned) had defaulted and fled. He
had contracted large debts in the name of the firm, and gambled away all
the accessible funds. The ruin was supposed to be irretrievable, and
with many bitter reproaches I was summoned to return with speed to
extricate affairs, and--make such reparation as I could.
The letter filled me with almost demoniacal joy. I was ruined, and for
her sake. I gloated over the thought.
'These weapons will now be useless,' said I.
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