CHAPTER V.
THEREBY HANGS A TALE.
"You believe now, I hope," said Mr.Fortescue, as we walked homeward.
"Believe what, sir ?" "That I have relentless enemies who seek my life.

When I first told you of this you did not believe me.

You thought I was the victim of an hallucination, else had I been more frank with you." "I am really very sorry." "Don't protest! I cannot blame you.

It is hard for people who have led uneventful lives and seen little of the seamy side of human nature to believe that under the veneer of civilization and the mask of convention, hatreds are still as fierce, men still as revengeful as ever they were in olden times....

I hope I did not make a mistake in sparing young Griscelli's life." "Sparing his life! How ?" "He sought my life, and I had a perfect right to take his." "That is not a very Christian sentiment, Mr.Fortescue." "I did not say it was.