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Updated: June 6, 2025
"Why, then, my dear fellow, hearing you are to be saved on a condition I am, naturally enough, anxious to know what that condition may be?" "Sir," said Barnabas, "let me hasten to set your anxiety at rest. My condition is merely that Mr. Barrymaine gives up two evil things namely, brandy and yourself."
"You are unfortunate, but you have always met disaster so far, with the fortitude of a gentleman, scorning your detractors and abominating charity." "C-charity! damn you, Chichester, d' ye think I-I'd accept any man's c-charity? D' you think I'd ever drag Cleone to that depth do you?" "Never, Barrymaine, never, I swear."
"Sir," said Barnabas, "whom do you mean?" "Mean? ha! ha! oh damme, hark to that, Dig! Dev'lish witty I call that oh c-cursed rich! Whom do I mean? Why," cried Barrymaine, starting up from the couch, "whom should I mean but Gaunt! Gaunt! Gaunt!" and he shook his clenched fists passionately in the air.
As he spoke, Barrymaine advanced to the table, his gaze always upon Mr. Chichester, nor did he look away even for an instant, thus, his hand wandered, for a moment, along the table, ere he found and took up the remaining pistol. Then, with it cocked in his hand, he backed away to the corner beside the hearth, and being come there, nodded.
And now there fell a silence so utter that Barnabas could distinctly hear the tick of Natty Bell's great watch in his fob; a silence in which Mr. Smivvle stared with wide-eyed dismay, while Barrymaine sat motionless with his glass half-way to his lips. Then Mr. Chichester laughed again, but the scar glowed upon his pallid cheek, and the lurking demon peeped out of his narrowed eyes.
Smivvle, steadying himself against the panelling with shaking hands, "the word will be Ready? One! Two! Three Fire! Do you understand?" An eager "Yes" from Barrymaine, a slight nod from Chichester, yet Mr. Smivvle still leaned there mutely against the wall, as though his tongue failed him, or as if hearkening to that small, soft sound, that might have been wind in the trees.
"My friend Barrymaine is low, sir, devilish low," he proceeded to explain, "indeed I'm quite distressed for the poor fellow, 'pon my soul and honor I am, for he is in a manner of speaking in eclipse as it were, sir!" "I fear I don't understand," said Barnabas. "Why, then in plain words, my dear Beverley, he's suffering from an acute attack of the Jews, dammem! a positive seizure, sir!"
"Why then leave me alone, I can m-manage my own affairs " "Perfectly, my dear fellow, I am sure of it." "Then sir," said Barnabas, rising, "seeing it really is no concern of yours, after all, suppose you cease to trouble yourself any further in the matter, and allow Mr. Barrymaine to choose for himself " "I I have decided!" cried Barrymaine, "and I tell you " "Wait!" said Barnabas.
Ronald Barrymaine sank down upon the couch, looked at Barnabas, looked at Smivvle, drained his glass and shook his head. "My dear Dig," said he, "your friend's either mad or drunk mos' probably drunk. Yes, that's it, or else he's smoking me, and I won't be smoked, no man shall laugh at me now that I'm down. Show him the door, Dig.
"I think," said Barnabas, putting away his watch, "yes, I think I shall." "The house is called Ashleydown," continued Barrymaine feverishly, "a b-big house about a m-mile this side the village." "Ashleydown? I think I've heard mention of it before. But now, you must come with me, Smivvle is downstairs, you shall have my rooms to-night." "Thanks, Beverley, but do you m-mind giving me your arm?
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