When all is said, a man's final judgment of his fellows must be based
upon his knowledge of himself; and Lionel, knowing himself incapable of
any such sacrifice for Sir Oliver, could not believe Sir Oliver capable
of persisting in such a sacrifice as future events might impose. He
reverted to those words Sir Oliver had uttered in that very room two
nights ago, and more firmly than ever he concluded that they could have
but one meaning.
Then came doubt, and, finally, assurance of another sort, assurance that
this was not so and that he knew it; assurance that he lied to himself,
seeking to condone the thing he did. He took his head in his hands and
groaned loud. He was a villain, a black-hearted, soulless villain! He
reviled himself again. There came a moment when he rose shuddering,
resolved even in this eleventh hour to go after his brother and save him
from the doom that awaited him out yonder in the night
But again that resolve was withered by the breath of selfish fear.
Limply he resumed his seat, and his thoughts took a fresh turn. They
considered now those matters which had engaged them on that day when Sir
Oliver had ridden to Arwenack to claim satisfaction of Sir John
Killigrew. He realized again that Oliver being removed, what he now
enjoyed by his brother's bounty he would enjoy henceforth in his own
unquestioned right. The reflection brought him a certain consolation.
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