"Paul," he said, "you and your wife must never meet again."
Paul Ritson turned red, and then ashy pale. A scarcely perceptible tremble of the eyelids, then a jaunty laugh, and then an appalling solemnity.
"What d'ye mean, man?" he said, with a vacant stare.
"Sit down and listen," said Hugh, seating himself, and lifting the poker to draw the fire together.
"Quick, tell me what it, is!" said Paul again.
"Paul, don't chafe. We are hot-tempered men, both, at bottom," said Hugh, and his eye perused his brother with searching power.
"Don't look at me like that," said Paul. "Don't try to frighten me. Speak out, and quickly."
"Be calm," said Hugh.
"Bah! you take me blindfold to the edge of a precipice, and tell be to 'be calm.'"
"You are wrong. I find you there, and remove the bandage," said Hugh.