Be wise, if
you can, while you are wary; if your words continue to come from the
same nest, they will beget something more than words, my good fellow."
"True, and like enough, Munro; and why do you provoke me to say them?"
replied Rivers, something more sedately. "You see me in a passion--you
know that I have cause--for is not this cause enough--this vile scar on
features, now hideous, that were once surely not unpleasing."
As he spoke he dashed his fingers into the wound, which he still seemed
pleased to refer to, though the reference evidently brought with it
bitterness and mortification. He proceeded--his passion again rising
predominant--
"Shall I spare the wretch whose ministry defaced me--shall I not have
revenge on him who first wrote villain here--who branded me as an
accursed thing, and among things bright and beautiful gave me the badge,
the blot, the heel-stamp, due the serpent? Shall I not have my
atonement--my sacrifice--and shall you deny me--you, Walter Munro, who
owe it to me in justice?"
"I owe it to you, Guy--how?"
"You taught me first to be the villain you now find me.
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