The cold, clear blue eye was lighted up with a gleam of fire, which cast an angry glare around, like a flash of summer lightning leaping from the dark clouds.
"The man was only in the performance of his duty. It was expending your wrath upon a wrong object."
"He just deserved what he got. None but a rascal would ever fill such a post, none but rascals ever do fill it, men far worse in moral character than the villains they take. An honest man would sweep the streets before he'd earn his living in such a mean way."
Gerard could scarcely forbear a smile at this tirade, when Rushmere asked him abruptly the cause of his visit.
"To take you out of this place, and carry you back to your own home."
"And who pays the debt?"
"I have agreed to do that."
"You! What business ha' you wi' paying my debts? If Lawrence Rushmere can't do that, he must content himsel' to stay here."
"You must not refuse me this great favour. Consider me as a son, willing and anxious to serve you."
At the mention of the word son, the old man sprang to his feet, and, clenching his fist, exclaimed,