Every trace of the lethargy in which he was sunk when I had last
seen him had disappeared. His eyes were bright, his cheeks deeply
flushed. As I entered, he started up, and refused my offered
hand.
"You have not treated me like a friend," he said, passionately;
"you had no right to continue the search unless I searched with
you--you had no right to leave me here alone. I was wrong to
trust you; you are no better than all the rest of them."
I had by this time recovered a little from my first astonishment,
and was able to reply before he could say anything more. It was
quite useless, in his present state, to reason with him or to
defend myself. I determined to risk everything, and break my news
to him at once.
"You will treat me more justly, Monkton, when you know that I
have been doing you good service during my absence," I said.
"Unless I am greatly mistaken, the object for which we have left
Naples may be nearer attainment by both of us than--"
The flush left his cheeks almost in an instant. Some expression
in my face, or some tone in my voice, of which I was not
conscious, had revealed to his nervously-quickened perception
more than I had intended that he should know at first. His eyes
fixed themselves intently on mine; his hand grasped my arm; and
he said to me in an eager whisper:
"Tell me the truth at once.
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