"Quite right; you are not required to criminate yourself.

I wish sincerely we were not compelled to criminate you." The Seraph's grand, rolling voice broke in; he had stood chafing, chained, panting in agonies of passion and of misery.
"M.

Baroni!" he said hotly, the furious vehemence of his anger and his bewilderment obscuring in him all memory of either law or fact, "you have heard his signature and your statements alike denied once for all by Mr.Cecil.Your document is a libel and a conspiracy, like your charge; it is false, and you are swindling; it is an outrage, and you are a scoundrel; you have schemed this infamy for the sake of extortion; not a sovereign will you obtain through it.

Were the accusation you dare to make true, I am the only one whom it can concern, since it is my name which is involved.

Were it true--could it possibly be true--I should forbid any steps to be taken in it; I should desire it ended once and forever.