Sears, that the servant is a
boor. I believe him, instead, to be a very clever ruffian. I believe
him to be the protector of his master's honor, or, let us say, of his
master's property, whether that property be silver plate or the woman
his master loves. Last night, after Lord Arthur had gone away, the
servant was left alone in this house with Lord Chetney and Madame
Zichy. From where he sat in the hall, he could hear Lord Chetney
bidding her farewell; for, if my idea of him is correct, he
understands English quite as well as you or I. Let us imagine that he
heard her entreating Chetney not to leave her, reminding him of his
former wish to marry her, and let us suppose that he hears Chetney
denounce her, and tell her that at Cairo he has learned of this
Russian admirer--the servant's master. He hears the woman declare
that she has had no admirer but himself, that this unknown Russian
was, and is, nothing to her, that there is no man she loves but him,
and that she cannot live, knowing that he is alive, without his love.
Suppose Chetney believed her, suppose his former infatuation for her
returned, and that, in a moment of weakness, he forgave her and took
her in his arms.
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