27/48 Suppose me to have suffered that; what sort of temptation do you suppose would have assailed me? Do you class me with those who can only be tempted by base suggestions? You conclude that I must have aimed at stealing the girl from you solely to gratify myself, heedless of her, heedless of you. Such a motive as that is to outweigh every higher instinct I possess, to blind me to past and future, to make me all at once a heartless, unimaginative brute. That is your view of my character, Grail!' Gilbert had not the appearance of a man who listens. |