“'Bloody and deceitful men shall not live half their days',” said Wood, reading aloud another passage.
“And yet, he has been spared thus long; perhaps with a wise purpose,” rejoined Thames. “But, though the storm has spared him, I will not.”
“'No doubt,'” said Wood, who had again turned over the leaves of the sacred volume—', “no doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he escaped the seas, yet vengeance suffereth not to live'.”
“No feelings of consanguinity shall stay my vengeance,” said Thames, sternly. “I will have no satisfaction but his life.”
“'Thou shalt take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer which is guilty of death, but he shall surely be put to death',” said Wood referring to another text.
“Do not steel your heart against him, dear Thames,” interposed Winifred.
“'And thine eye shall not pity,'” said her father, in a tone of rebuke, “'but, life shall be for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.'”
As these words were delivered by the carpenter with stern emphasis, a female servant entered the room, and stated that a gentleman was at the door, who wished to speak with Captain Darell on business of urgent importance.
“With me?” said Thames. “Who is it?”
“He didn't give his name, Sir,” replied the maid; “but he's a young gentleman.”