I was a great ass.
You will!" "I beg your pardon--I won't!" retorted Roderick.
"Though I 'm a great ass, all the same, eh?
Well, call me what you will, so long as you turn out this sort of thing! I don't suppose it makes any particular difference, but I should like to say now I believe in you." Roderick stood looking at him for a moment with a strange hardness in his face.

It flushed slowly, and two glittering, angry tears filled his eyes.

It was the first time Rowland had ever seen them there; he saw them but once again.

Poor Gloriani, he was sure, had never in his life spoken with less of irony; but to Roderick there was evidently a sense of mockery in his profession of faith.

He turned away with a muttered, passionate imprecation.