You shall be asked in a court of law how much of
that money I have handled. You know that I have never touched--have
never wanted to touch--one shilling. I will make no attempt at any
settlement. My person is here, and there is my house. Let them do
their worst."
"But, Mark--"
"Call me by my name, sir, and drop that affectation of regard. What
an ass I have been to be so cozened by a sharper!" Sowerby had by no
means expected this. He had always known that Robarts possessed what
he, Sowerby, would have called the spirit of a gentleman. He had
regarded him as a bold, open, generous fellow, able to take his own
part when called on to do so, and by no means disinclined to speak
his own mind; but he had not expected from him such a torrent of
indignation, or thought that he was capable of such a depth of anger.
"If you use such language as that, Robarts, I can only leave you."
"You are welcome. Go. You tell me that you are the messenger of these
men who intend to work nine hundred pounds out of me. You have done
your part in the plot, and have now brought their message. It seems
to me that you had better go back to them. As for me, I want my time
to prepare my wife for the destiny before her."
"Robarts, you will be sorry some day for the cruelty of your words.
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