第44部分(第3/7 页)

ny　day。”

“But　Mr。　Mason　seems　a　man　easily　led。　Your　influence；　sir；　is　evidently　potent　with　him：　he　will　never　set　you　at　defiance　or　wilfully　injure　you。”

“Oh；　no！　Mason　will　not　defy　me；　nor；　knowing　it；　will　he　hurt　me—　but；　unintentionally；　he　might　in　a　moment；　by　one　careless　word；　deprive　me；　if　not　of　life；　yet　for　ever　of　happiness。”

“Tell　him　to　be　cautious；　sir：　let　him　know　what　you　fear；　and　show　him　how　to　avert　the　danger。”

He　laughed　sardonically；　hastily　took　my　hand；　and　as　hastily　threw　it　from　him。

“If　I　could　do　that；　simpleton；　where　would　the　danger　be？　Annihilated　in　a　moment。　Ever　since　I　have　known　Mason；　I　have　only　had　to　say　to　him　‘Do　that；’　and　the　thing　has　been　done。　But　I　cannot　give　him　orders　in　this　case：　I　cannot　say　‘Beware　of　harming　me；　Richard；’　for　it　is　imperative　that　I　should　keep　him　ignorant　that　harm　to　me　is　possible。　Now　you　look　puzzled；　and　I　will　puzzle　you　further。　You　are　my　little　friend；　are　you　not？”

“I　like　to　serve　you；　sir；　and　to　obey　you　in　all　that　is　right。”

“Precisely：　I　see　you　do。　I　see　genuine　contentment　in　your　gait　and　mien；　your　eye　and　face；　when　you　are　helping　me　and　pleasing　me—working　for　me；　and　with　me；　in；　as　you　characteristically　say；　‘all　that　is　right：’　for　if　I　bid　you　do　what　you　thought　wrong；　there　would　be　no　light…footed　running；　no　neat…handed　alacrity；　no　lively　glance　and　animated　plexion。　My　friend　would　then　turn　to　me；　quiet　and　pale；　and　would　say；　‘No；　sir；　that　is　impossible：　I　cannot　do　it；　because　it　is　wrong；’　and　would　bee　immutable　as　a　fixed　star。　Well；　you　too　have　power　over　me；　and　may　injure　me：　yet　I　dare　not　show　you　where　I　am　vulnerable；　lest；　faithful　and　friendly　as　you　are；　you　should　transfix　me　at　once