FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116  
117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   >>   >|  
is generous resolution, he communicated his designs to Allcraft. They were received with looks of unaffected fright. Without an instant's hesitation, Michael implored his partner to desist--to give up at once, and for ever, all thoughts of the delusion--to be faithful to his duty, and to think well of his serious engagement. "Your Association, sir," he exclaimed in the anger of the moment, "is like every other precious scheme you have embarked in--impracticable, ridiculous, absurd!" Planner, in these three words, could only read--_ingratitude_--the basest it had ever been his lot to meet. Here was a return for his frankness--his straightforward conduct--his unequalled liberality. Here was the affectionate expression of thanks which he had so proudly looked forward to--the acknowledgment of superior genius which he had a right to expect from the man who was to profit so largely by the labour of his brains. Very well. Then let it be so. He would prosecute the glorious work alone--he would himself supply the funds needful for the undertaking, and alone he would receive the great reward that most assuredly awaited him. Very delicately did Michael hint to his partner, that his--Planner's--funds existed, with his castles and associations, in the unsubstantial air, and no where else; but not so delicately as to avoid heaping fuel on the fire which he had already kindled in the breast of the offended schemer. The latter bristled at the words, lost for an instant his self-possession, said in his anger more than he intended--more than he might easily unsay--enough to bruise the already smarting soul of Allcraft. A threat escaped his lips--a reproach--a taunt. He spoke of his _power_, and touched cuttingly upon the deep schemes of _other_ men, more feasible than his own perhaps, and certainly more honest. Allcraft winced, as every syllable made known the speaker's actual strength--his own dependence and utter weakness. He made no reply to the attack of the man whom he had drawn from beggary; but he looked him in the face steadily and reproachfully, and shamed him into vexation and regret. "I did not mean to speak unkindly, Michael," he stammered with a view to apologize. "I am sorry that I lost my temper. You need not fear me. Don't remember what I have said." "You have threatened me, Planner," answered Allcraft, trembling with irritation. "You have attempted to frighten me into compliance with your demands. I say, sir, you h
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116  
117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Allcraft

 

Planner

 

Michael

 
looked
 
delicately
 

instant

 
partner
 

bruise

 

easily

 

smarting


remember
 

reproach

 

escaped

 

threat

 

answered

 
offended
 

schemer

 

breast

 

demands

 
kindled

bristled

 
possession
 

trembling

 

threatened

 

irritation

 

attempted

 

compliance

 
frighten
 

intended

 

cuttingly


attack

 

apologize

 

weakness

 

dependence

 

beggary

 

unkindly

 

vexation

 

regret

 

stammered

 

shamed


steadily

 

reproachfully

 

strength

 

feasible

 

schemes

 

temper

 
speaker
 

actual

 

syllable

 

honest