After contemplating the father and son for some time alternately, with a look in which was visible the most withering contempt and scorn, and which made them both quail before him, he replied:
“Your falsehood, scoundrels, is as vindictive as it is cowardly, and you both know it; but I am an honest man, and I feel to stoop to a defence of my virtuous child against either of you, would be a degradation to her as well as to myself. I therefore go, leaving you my contempt and scorn, I could almost say my pity.”
He then walked out, neither father nor son having thought it prudent to brave the expression of his eye by replying to his words.
“Now,” said Val, addressing Solomon, “let there be an execution issued without a moment's delay—the man is doomed, his hour has come; and so, may I never prosper, if I don't scatter him and his, houseless and homeless, to the four corners of heaven! I have meshed him at last, and now for vengeance.”
“But,” said Solomon, in a tone of slight remonstrance, “I trust, my dear M'Clutchy, that,in taking vengeance upon this man and his family, you will do so in a proper spirit, and guard against the imputations of an uncharitable world. When you take vengeance, let your motives be always pure and upright and even charitable—of course you expect and hope that you ruin this man and his; family for their own spiritual good. The affliction that you are about! to bring on them, will soften and subdue their hard and obstinate hearts, and lead them it is to be hoped, to a better and more Christian state of feeling. May He grant it!”
“Of course,” replied Val, humoring him in his hypocrisy, “of course it is from these motives I act; certainly it is.”
“In that case,” said Solomon, “I am bound to acknowledge that I never have heard a man vow vengeance, or express a determination to ruin his fellow creature, upon more delightfully Christian principles. It is a great privilege, indeed, to be able to ruin a whole family in such a blessed spirit, I have no doubt you feel it so.”
CHAPTEK XXIV.—Raymond's Sense of Justice
—Voice of the Ideal—Poll Doolin's Remorse—Conversation on Irish Property—Disclosure concerning Mary M'Laughlin