You will see me off, I know; but I may not be able to say then a dozen
words that I should be sorry to leave unsaid. I'll do you this
justice--in no one instance have I ever seen you flinch when I wanted
your help; though often you had no object of your own to serve. I
believe no man ever had a cheerier comrade, or a better backer. I don't
like you the worse for standing aloof during the last five weeks. I
never had one unpleasant word from you; but if any of mine have vexed or
offended you--see now--I ask your forgiveness from the bottom of my
heart."
It is no shame to Harry's manhood that he could not answer intelligibly;
but ten sentences of elaborate sentiment would hardly have been so
eloquent as the pressure of his honest hand.
Later in the day, Keene went to take leave of _la mignonne_. He did so
with pain and reluctance. Men, utterly hard and merciless toward their
own species, have been very fond of their pets; even when these last
belonged to an inferior order of creation. Couthon would fondle his
spaniel while he was signing a sheaf of death-warrants; and the Prophet,
who could contemplate placidly a dozen cities in flames, and watch human
hecatombs falling under the sword of Omar or Ali, cut off the sleeve of
his robe rather than disturb a favorite cat in her slumbers.
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