then, do I know in which direction
to go? Call you not this a crime thus to abuse your power over one
unhappily in your hands? Thus to--"

"To abuse my power!" repeated Rodolph, in a solemn voice. "And how have
you employed the power granted to you? How used _your_ superior
strength?"

"O Death! how gladly would I now accept you!" cried the wretched man.
"To be henceforward at every one's mercy,--to fear the weakest, the
smallest object!--a child might now master me! Gracious God! what will
become of me?"

"You have plenty of money."

"It will be taken from me!" cried the ruffian.

"Mark those words,--'It will be taken from me!' See how they fill you
with fear and dread! You have plundered so many, unmindful of their
helpless, destitute condition,--begone!"

"For the love of God," cried the Schoolmaster, in a suppliant tone, "let
some person lead me forth! What will become of me in the streets? Oh, in
mercy kill me! take my miserable life! but do not turn me out thus
wretched, thus helpless! Kill, for pity's sake, and save me from being
crushed beneath the first vehicle I encounter!"

"No! Live and repent."

"Repent!" shouted the Schoolmaster, in a fearful voice. "Never! I will
live for vengeance,--for deep and fearful vengeance!" And again he threw
himself from the chair, holding his clenched fists in a menacing
attitude towards the ceiling, as though calling upon Heaven to witness
the fixedness of his resolve. In an instant his step faltered; he again
hesitated, as though fearful of a thousand dangers.

"Alas! alas! I cannot proceed,--I dare not move! And I, lately so strong
and so dreaded by all,--look at me now! Yet no one pities me,--no one
cares for me,--no hand is stretched out to help the wretched blind upon
his lonely way!"

It is impossible to express the stupefaction and alarm expressed by the
countenance of the Chourineur during this terrible scene. His rough
features exhibited the deepest compassion for his fallen foe, and
approaching Rodolph, he said, in a low tone:

"M. Rodolph, he was an accomplished villain, and has only got what he
richly deserves; he wanted to murder me a little while ago, too. But he
is now blind,--he does not even know how to find his way out of the
house, and he may be crushed to death in the streets; may I lead him to
some safe place, where, at least, he may remain quiet for a time?"

"Nobly said!" replied Rodolph, kindly pressing the hand of the
Chourineur. "Go, m