He heard me through in a forbidding silence, nor did he at all betray the nature of his sentiments, except that, at the episode of the scissors, I could observe his mulberry face to turn three shades paler.
'I suppose I may believe you ?' said he, when I had done.
'Or else conclude this interview,' said I.
'Can you not understand that we are here discussing matters of the gravest import?
Can you not understand that I feel myself weighed with a load of responsibility on your account--that you should take this occasion to air your fire-eating manners against your own attorney?
There are serious hours in life, Mr.Anne,' he said severely.

'A capital charge, and that of a very brutal character and with singularly unpleasant details; the presence of the man Clausel, who (according to your account of it) is actuated by sentiments of real malignity, and prepared to swear black white; all the other witnesses scattered and perhaps drowned at sea; the natural prejudice against a Frenchman and a runaway prisoner: this makes a serious total for your lawyer to consider, and is by no means lessened by the incurable folly and levity of your own disposition.' 'I beg your pardon!' said I.
'Oh, my expressions have been selected with scrupulous accuracy,' he replied.

'How did I find you, sir, when I came to announce this catastrophe?
You were sitting on the hearthrug playing, like a silly baby, with a servant, were you not, and the floor all scattered with gold and bank paper?
There was a tableau for you! It was I who came, and you were lucky in that.

It might have been any one--your cousin as well as another.' 'You have me there, sir,' I admitted.

'I had neglected all precautions, and you do right to be angry.