"Bear with me!" he cried in a faltering voice; "I did not think to love
any one as you have made me love you, though sadly against the grain.
If you are not my good angel, it is that nature and habit are too strong
for you. Certainly some day we shall meet again. I shall have time, in
the mean while, to see if the world can be indeed 'mine oyster, which I
with sword can open.' I would be aut Caesar aut nullus! Very little
other Latin know I to quote from! If Caesar, men will forgive me all
the means to the end; if nullus, London has a river, and in every street
one may buy a cord!"

"Vivian! Vivian!"

"Now go, my dear friend, while my heart is softened,--go before I shock
you with some return of the native Adam. Go, go!"

And taking me gently by the arm, Francis Vivian drew me from the room,
and re-entering, locked his door.

Ah! if I could have left him Robert Hall, instead of those execrable
Typhons! But would that medicine have suited his case, or must grim
Experience write sterner prescriptions with iron hand?




CHAPTER II.


When I got back, just in time for dinner, Roland had not returned, nor