The Hebrew's eyes blazed like a wild beast's. The words: “As the Lord liveth...” hissed in whispers from his lips.
He took up a pinch of old ashes, and cast it into the air.
As Shimei, the son of Gera, cursed David, so he cursed Richard Hogarth that night—again and again—with grave rites, with cancerous rancour.
“I will blight him, as the Lord liveth; as the Lord liveth, I will blight him...” he said repeatedly, his draperied arms spread in pompous imprecation.
As a beginning, he sat and wrote to Reid's Bank, requesting the payment in gold of £14,000—to produce a stoppage of payment at the little Bank in which were Richard's savings.
Afterwards, with mild eyes he repaired to the dining-hall, and sanctified the Sabbath, blessing a cup of wine, dividing up two napkined loaves, and giving to Rebekah his benediction.
IV. — THE SWOON
Hogarth went moodily down the hillside to the Waveney, across the bridge, and home, his sleeve stained with blood.