2/21 How dare you, of all men, speak thus to my cousin ?" Certainly the effect of the barrister's straightforward statement was unlooked-for. But Brett felt that a family quarrel would not further his object at that moment. It was necessary to stop the imminent outburst, for David Hume and Giovanni Capella were silently challenging each other to mortal combat. What a place of ill-omen to the descendants of the Georgian baronet was this sun-lit library with its spacious French windows! "Of course," said the barrister, speaking as quietly as if he were discussing the weather, "such a topic is an unpleasant one. |