“It’s all you’ll get—that’s final. Remember now that I stand here by my father. Always remember that when your fingers itch for hush money—and remember who it was that was once my friend.”
He rose and crept to the door with bowed head. Some old vein of tenderer feeling gushed warm in me.
“Jason,” I cried, “I forgive you for all you have done to me.”
He turned and came back to me, seized me by the wrist—and his eyes were moist with tears.
“For pity’s sake come a little way with me, Renny. You don’t know what I suffer.”
“A little way on your road, do you mean?”
“Yes. I daren’t go by train. He might be there. I must walk; and I dread—Renny, supposing I should meet him on the way?”
“Why, that’s nonsense. Haven’t you just come alone?”
“I was driven by the thought of what I was seeking, then. It was bad enough. But, now I’ve got it, all nerve seems shaken out of me. I’m afraid of the dark.”
Was this the stuff that villains are made of? Almost I could find it in me to soothe and comfort the poor, terrified creature.