stituted to Ambition--sin against light--a man's
betrayal of his highest self and his own belief--the mind's incurable
blindness--I, I am above all law--to take rich gifts and hold the gods
in contempt--Daedalus wings'"--The speaker paused to fill his glass.
"Yes, I should powerfully like to know at whom 'Aurelius' was aiming."

"At no one, I think," said Rand coolly. "He made a scarecrow of his own,
and then was frightened by it. His chain-shot raked a man of straw,--and
so would I tell 'Aurelius,' if I knew who he was."

As he spoke, he moved to face the fire. He had not raised his voice, but
he had given it carrying quality. Cary raised his eyes, and laid down
the paper he had in his hand. A genial, down-river planter and
magistrate entered the conversation. "Well, I for one don't hold with
all this latter-day hiding behind names out of Roman history! Brutus and
Cato and Helvidius, Decius and Aurelius, and all the rest of them! Is a
man ashamed of his English name?"

"Or afraid?" said Rand, then bit his lip. He had not meant to carry
things so far, but the pent-up anger had its way at last. His mind was
weary and tense, irritable from two sleepless nights and from futile
decisions, and he inherited a tendency to black and sudden rage. It was
true he had walked through life with a black dog at his heels. Sometimes
he turned, closed with, throttled, and flung off his pursuer; sometimes
he left him far behind; more than once he had seen him mastered and done
with, dead by the wayside, had drawn free breath, and had gone on with a
victor's brow. Then, when all the fields were smiling, came at a bound
the dark shape, leaped at the throat, and hung there. It was so this
evening at Lynch's. He strove with his passion, but he was aware of a
wish to strive no longer, to let the black dog have his way.

There was a laugh for the speaker before him. "You see, sir," cried a
noted lawyer, "Brutus and Cato, Helvidius, Decius, and Aurelius, and
all the noble Romans died before duelling came in! 'Sir, the editor of
the--ahem!--newspaper, I take exception to this statement in your
pages.' 'Sir, I refer you to Junius Brutus. Answer, Roman!' Never a
sound from Limbo!--'Sir, Decius has grossly misrepresented. Where shall
I send my challenge?' 'To Hades, no less! Not the least use in knocking
up John Randolph of Roanoke.'--'Sir, I am at odds with Aurelius. Pray
favour me with the gentleman's address.' 'Sir, he left no name. You see,
h