[Clarence by Bret Harte]@TWC D-Link book
Clarence

CHAPTER II
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A moment--a single moment." It was the voice of Colonel Starbottle; it was the frilled shirt front, the lightly buttoned blue coat with its expanding lapels, like bursting petals, and the smiling mask of that gentleman rising above the table and bowing to Clarence Brant and his wife with infinite courtesy.
"The--er--humiliating situation in which we find ourselves, gentlemen,--the reluctant witnesses of--er--what we trust is only a temporary disagreement between our charming hostess and the--er--gentleman whom she recognized under the highest title to our consideration,--is distressing to us all, and would seem to amply justify that gentleman's claims to a personal satisfaction, which I know we would all delight to give.

But that situation rests upon the supposition that our gathering here was of a purely social or festive nature! It may be," continued the colonel with a blandly reflective air, "that the spectacle of these decanters and glasses, and the nectar furnished us by our Hebe-like hostess" (he lifted a glass of whiskey and water to his lips while he bowed to Mrs.Brant gracefully), "has led the gentleman to such a deduction.

But when I suggest to him that our meeting was of a business, or private nature, it strikes me that the question of intrusion may be fairly divided between him and ourselves.
We may be even justified, in view of that privacy, in asking him if his--er--entrance to this house was--er--coincident with his appearance among us." "With my front door in possession of strangers," said Clarence, more in reply to a sudden contemptuous glance from his wife than Starbottle's insinuation, "I entered the house through the window." "Of my boudoir, where another intruder once broke his neck," interrupted his wife with a mocking laugh.
"Where I once helped this lady to regain possession of her house when it was held by another party of illegal trespassers, who, however, were content to call themselves 'jumpers,' and did not claim the privacy of gentlemen." "Do you mean to imply, sir," began Colonel Starbottle haughtily, "that"-- "I mean to imply, sir," said Clarence with quiet scorn, "that I have neither the wish to know nor the slightest concern in any purpose that brought you here, and that when you quit the house you take your secrets and your privacy with you intact, without let or hindrance from me." "Do you mean to say, Mr.Brant," said Judge Beeswinger, suppressing the angry interruption of his fellows with a dominant wave of his hand, as he fixed his eyes on Clarence keenly, "that you have no sympathy with your wife's political sentiments ?" "I have already given you the information necessary to make you quit this house, and that is all you have a right to know," returned Clarence with folded arms.
"But I can answer for him," said Mrs.Brant, rising, with a quivering voice and curling lip.

"There IS no sympathy between us.

We are as far apart as the poles.


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