Robert W Chambers

Ailsa Paige Robert W Chambers

Book Excerpter lightly?"Berkley laughed, showing his teeth. "No. It was your damned conscience; and I suppose you couldn't strangle it. I am sorry you couldn't. Sometimes a strangled conscience makes men kinder."Colonel Arran rang. A dark flush had overspread his forehead; he turned to the butler."Bring me the despatch box which stands on: my study table."Berkley, hands behind his back, was pacing the dining-room carpet."Would you accept a glass of wine?" asked Colonel Arran in a low voice. Berkley wheeled on him with a terrible smile."Shall a man drink wine with the slayer of souls?" Then, pallid face horribly distorted, he stretched out a shaking arm. "Not that you ever could succeed in getting near enough to murder hers! But you've killed mine. I know now what died in me. It was that! . . . And I know now, as I stand here excommunicated by you from all who have been born within the law, that there is not left alive in me one ideal, one noble impulse, one spiritual convictio