idle tight so that his horse was checked and stood
still, and said in his frankest tone: "There now, I've unburdened my
heart. The rest will follow as a matter of course. I'm an old man, and
it's not a consoling prospect, that on the next equally innocent
occasion, the noble lady's aversion will develop into open hatred and
revenge and she may insist upon sending me out of the house. I've
become accustomed to living here and should cut a poor figure out
in the world. For although I can't be driven from the door like a
dog--certain old obligations will not permit that--the gods know how I
should fare. And this lady, strange as it sounds, still has unlimited
power over my former pupil. I believe, if she made it the price of
reconciliation, that I should be drowned in a cask of Burgundy, I
should hardly escape with my life, in spite of the fact that we live in
the nineteenth century. So it would be kind and friendly in you, my
dear sir, if you would reason the countess out of this insane prejudice
against me. Good Heavens, I don't ask much; I've seen my best days; but
in return for the frankness and honesty with which I've always treated
her, to be taken for a venal scoundrel, a miserable wretch capable of
being hired for every secret deed of villainy, like a foreign bravo,
you must confess, is rather too much, and may well make the blood
seethe in the veins of an honorable man."

The last words were spoken from the saddle into which he had again
mounted. He seemed to take Edwin's silence for the assent which, in
such cases, is a matter of course among "men of honor." "I rely upon
you entirely," he cried, putting spurs to his little horse, "and am of
course ready to perform any service in return. Who knows whether the
harmless domestic animal, who signs himself Doctor Basler, may not yet
be useful; _homo sum, nihil humani_--that's always the refrain."

He waved his hat with a familiar twinkle in his eyes, spurred on his
horse, and trotted rapidly after the procession, which was already
considerably in advance.

Edwin was glad that they had parted so quickly. He could not have much
longer refrained from repaying his new friend's "frankness and honesty"
in the same coin, informing him that he felt entirely unable to play
the expected _role_ of mediator. His heart burned, his tongue was
bitter with loathing and suppressed indignation. He now clearly
perceived that there was no longer anything to hope for, the breech
could