This nervous excitement had been increasing
upon him every day, and his devotion to the bottle by no means tended
to allay it. Such are the consequences of guilt. If the victim, before
he yields to temptation, could anticipate the terrible state of suspense
into which his guilt would plunge him,--if he could see only a faint
reflection of himself, starting at every sound in nervous terror, as
before the appearance of some grim spirit of darkness,--he would never
have the courage to commit a crime.
The stranger entered the library. It was De Guy. At his appearance
Jaspar's fears gave way to a most uncontrollable fit of passion.
"Villain!" exclaimed he, "how dare you enter my house, after what has
passed?"
"Gently, my dear sir! You forget that we have been friends, and that our
mutual safety requires us to remain so still," said De Guy, in his silky
tone and compromising manner.
Jaspar compressed his lips, and grated his teeth, while a smothered oath
escaped him. But his rage soon found a more audible expression.
"Friends!" By ----, I should think we had been _friends!_" said he,
fiercely.
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