The taunt is coupled with the triumph--the spoil follows the
victory--and the captive is chained to the chariot-wheel of his
conqueror, and must adorn the march of his superior by his own shame and
sorrows. But, to be just to myself, permit me to say, that what you have
considered a reproach was in truth designed as a compliment. I must
regret that my modes of expression are so clumsy, that, in the utterance
of my thought, the sentiment so changed its original shape as entirely
to lose its identity. It certainly deserved the graceful swordsmanship
which foiled it so completely."
"Nay, sir," said the animated girl, "you are bloodily-minded toward
yourself, and it is matter of wonder to me how you survive your own
rebuke. So far from erring in clumsy phrase, I am constrained to admit
that I thought, and think you, excessively adroit and happy in its
management. It was only with a degree of perversity, intended solely to
establish our independence of opinion, at least for the moment, that I
chose to mistake and misapprehend you.
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