As it was, there was a
demonstration in the wilderness when the voice ceased crying. But
we sat in the deeper silence when Raffles rose to reply.
I leaned forward not to lose a word. I knew my Raffles so well
that I felt almost capable of reporting his speech before I heard
it. Never was I more mistaken, even in him! So far from a gibe
for a gibe and a taunt for a taunt, there never was softer answer
than that which A. J. Raffles returned to Nipper Nasmyth before
the staring eyes and startled ears of all. assembled. He courteously
but firmly refused to believe a word his old friend Nasmyth had said
- about himself. He had known Nasmyth for twenty years, and never
had he met a dog who barked so loud and bit so little. The fact
was that he had far too kind a heart to bite at all. Nasmyth might
get up and protest as loud as he liked: the speaker declared he knew
him better than Nasmyth knew himself. He had the necessary defects
of his great qualities. He was only too good a sportsman. He had
a perfect passion for the weaker side. That alone led Nasmyth into
such excesses of language as we had all.
Pages:
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158