" The rogue
sat down.
"And to whom might this handsome case belong?" I asked, examining it
closely.
"Oh, that has always been mine. There was a time,"--blowing rings at
the candelabrum,--"when I was respected like yourself, rich, sought
after. A woman and a trusted friend: how these often tumble down our
beautiful edifices! Yes, I am a scamp, a thief, a rogue; but not
because I need the money. No,"--with retrospective eyes--"I need
excitement, tremendous and continuous,--excitement to keep my vigilance
and invention active day and night, excitement to obliterate memory.
"But we can't do it, my friend, we can't do it. Memory is always with
us. She is an impartial Nemesis; she dogs the steps of the righteous
and the unrighteous. To obliterate memory, that is it! And where
might I find this obliteration, save in this life? Drugs? Pah! Oh, I
have given Haggerty a royal chase. It has been meat and drink to me to
fool the cleverest policeman in New York. Till yesterday my face, as a
criminal, was unknown to any man or woman, save William here, who was
my valet in the old days. I have gone to my clubs, dined, played
billiards; a fine comedy, a fine comedy! To-morrow William and I sail
for Europe. Miss Hawthorne, you wear one of the most exquisite rubies
I have ever seen.
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