His assistant is only little--mean--despicable!" Loud and hurried in its wrath, low and deliberate in its contempt, all this was uttered with a furious and abnormal eloquence, which would have struck me, loving her, to the ground.

On Rattray it had a different effect.

His head lifted as she heaped abuse upon it, until he met her flashing eye with that of a man very thankful to take his deserts and something more; and to mine he was least despicable when that last word left her lips.

When he saw that it was her last, he took her candle (she had put it down on the ancient settle against the door), and presented it to her with another bow.

And so without a word he led her to the door, opened it, and bowed yet lower as she swept out, but still without a tinge of mockery in the obeisance.
He was closing the door after her when Joaquin Santos reached it.
"Diablo!" cried he.