Perceiving himself fully known, a
momentary feeling of inquietude came over him; and though he did not
fear, he began to entertain in his mind that kind of agitation and doubt
which made him, for the first time, apprehensive of the consequences. He
was not the cool villain like Munro--never to be taken by surprise, or
at disadvantage; and his eye was now withdrawn, though but for a moment,
beneath the stern and searching glance which read him through.
That tacit animal confession and acknowledgment were alone sufficient to
madden a temper such as that of Rivers. Easily aroused, his ferocity was
fearless and atrocious, but not measured or methodical. His mind was not
marked--we had almost said tempered--by that wholesome indifference of
mood which, in all matters of prime villany, is probably the most
desirable constituent. He was, as we have seen, a creature of strong
passions, morbid ambition, quick and even habitual excitement; though,
at times, endeavoring to put on that air of sarcastic superiority to all
emotion which marked the character of the ascetic philosopher--a
character to which he had not the slightest claim of resemblance, and
the very affectation of which, whenever he became aroused or irritated,
was completely forgotten.
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