"I love her?" said Donnegan in an indescribably tender voice. "I love her? Who am I to love her? A thief, a man-killer, a miserable play actor, a gambler, a drunkard. I love her? Bah!"
If there was one quality of the mind with which Lord Nick was less familiar than with all others, it was humbleness of spirit. He now abased his magnificent head, and resting his chin in the mighty palm of his hand, he stared with astonishment and commiseration into the face of Donnegan. He seemed to be learning new things every moment about his brother.
"Leave me out of the question," said Donnegan.
"Can't be done. If I leave you out, dear boy, there's not one of them that I care a hang about; I'd ride roughshod over the whole lot. I've done it before to better men than these!"
"Then you'll change, I know. This is the fact of the matter. She loves Landis. And if you take Landis away where will you put him?"
"Where he was stolen away. In Lebrun's."
"And what will be in Lebrun's?"
"Joe Rix to guard him and the old negress to nurse him."'
"No, no! Nelly Lebrun will be there!"
"Eh? Are you glancing at her, now?"