Appadocca calmly raised the chair from the floor, drew it to the head of the table, folded his thin cloak around him and sat down.
“I did not design to deliver you up to the authorities,” shrieked Willmington, almost inarticulately. “No, no! I had only intended to frighten you, I would have allowed you to escape. Oh, yes, I would have protected you; yes, yes, I would have protected you like a father. Forgive, forgive me, and scare me no more.”
Appadocca looked round upon the miserable Willmington, who, contracted with terror within the smallest possible heap, crouched in a corner.
“Do not look at me,” cried Willmington still more terrified, “vanish, vanish, in the name of Heaven and all the saints. If you come from Hell—to-to haunt me,—return, return. It was not I that wronged you. Forgetfulness, forgetfulness—I intended—I intended always—always to find you out. Your mother, aye, your—your mother loved me. Have mercy—mercy—on me,—the vessel—the vessel took me by—by chance to St. Thomas. I did not—I did ask him: no—no—I was sorry—sorry, when—when—you were drowned. Mercy—mercy.”
“Come here and make your will,” said Appadocca, authoritatively, without paying the slightest attention to the cries of the wretched and almost distracted man.
“Make my will? will!” recommenced Willmington, “do you intend to murder me? Hence, hence, I am a christian, you have no power on me. No, no,—do not—do not—out, out of my sight, damned, reprobate spirit.”
“I am no spirit. Speak not to me so sillily. Make your will, I say,” said Appadocca, with more authority, “and do not let these children suffer from your loss. The minutes that you can remain with them are counted.”
“Will, will!” exclaimed Willmington, as if already staggering in his intellect.
“Will? I have no will to make. My will is made already. Do not speak to me of wills—do not speak to me of wills, I do not wish to die—I will not die. Leave my sight—leave my sight—leave my sight.”
“Then settle your other affairs,” said Appadocca with the same authority as before. “I allow you five minutes; at the end of that time you must go with me.”