deal. She could not be better cared for than with Rufinus and Paula;
but if I could suppose," and he raised his voice, while his eyes took a
sinister and threatening expression, "if I could suppose that her sacred
and suffering innocence were merely an excuse. . . ."

"No, no," said Orion urgently. "Again, on my sacred word, I assure you
that I have no aim in view but the child's safety; and, as we have said
so much, I will not stick at a word more or less! "Rufinus' house is
open to you day and night, and I, if all turns out as I expect, shall ere
long be far from hence--from Memphis--from Paula. There is mischief
brewing--I dare say no more--an act of treachery; and I will try to
prevent it at the risk of my life. You, every one, shall no longer have
a right to think me capable of things which are as repulsive to my nature
as to yours. You and I, if I mistake not, strive for the same prize,
and so far are rivals; but why should the child therefor suffer? Forget
it in her presence, and that forgetting will, as you well know, enhance
your merit in her--her eyes."

"My merit?" retorted the other scornfully. "Merit is not in the
balance; nothing but the gifts of blind Fortune--a nose, a chin, an eye,
anything in short--a crime as much as a deed of heroism--that happens to
make a deep impression on the wax of a girl's soft heart. But curse me,"
and he shouted the words at Orion as if he were beside himself, "if I
know how we came to talk of such things! Has my folly gone running
through the streets, bare-bosomed, to display itself to the world at
large? How do you know what my feelings are? She, perhaps, has laughed
with you at her ridiculous lover?--Well, no matter. You know already,
or will know by to-morrow, which of us has won the cock-fight. You
have only to look at me! What woman ever broke her heart for such a
Thersites-face. Good-luck to the winner, and the other one--well, since