"There, again!" said I, stopping before Herbert, with my open hands held out, as if they contained the desperation of the case. "I know nothing of his life. It has almost made me mad to sit here of a night and see him before me, so bound up with my fortunes and misfortunes, and yet so unknown to me, except as the miserable wretch who terrified me two days in my childhood!"

     Herbert got up, and linked his arm in mine, and we slowly walked to and fro together, studying the carpet.

     "Handel," said Herbert, stopping, "you feel convinced that you can take no further benefits from him; do you?"

     "Fully. Surely you would, too, if you were in my place?"

     "And you feel convinced that you must break with him?"

     "Herbert, can you ask me?"

     "And you have, and are bound to have, that tenderness for the life he has risked on your account, that you must save him, if possible, from throwing it away. Then you must get him out of England before you stir a finger to extricate yourself. That done, extricate yourself, in Heaven's name, and we'll see it out together, dear old boy."