"Yes, I do. I admire his administrative capacity; it is wonderful. But I don't believe for a moment that it was his mind that projected this big scheme. That must have been the work of an idealist, perhaps of a dozen of them, all adding and helping. I think he almost said as much to me one night. His business is to keep the machinery in working order, and he does it to perfection."
"There is one thing about him: he never forgets, and he never forgives. You remember the story of Count Verdt?"
"I have cause to remember it. I thought for a moment the wretch had committed suicide because I caught him cheating."
"I have been told that Lind played with that fellow like a cat with a mouse. Verdt got hints from time to time that his punishment as a traitor was overtaking him; and yet he was allowed to live on in constant fear. And it was the Camorra, and not Lind, or any of Lind's friends, who finished him after all."
"Well, that was implacable enough, to be sure; to have death dogging the poor wretch's heels, and yet refusing to strike."
"For myself, I don't pity him much," said Lord Evelyn, as he rose and buttoned his coat. "He was a fool to think he could play such a trick and escape the consequences.
Now, Brand, how am I to hear from you to-morrow? You know I am in a measure responsible."
"However it ends, I am grateful to you, Evelyn; you may be sure of that. I will write to you from Wolverhampton, and let you know the worst, or the best."
"The best, then: we will have no worsts."
He said good-bye, and went whistling cheerfully down the narrow oak staircase. He at least was not very apprehensive about the results of the next day's interview.