Oh, I
s-swear I never meant it, Beverley--s-so help me, God!"
"But he is dead," said Barnabas, "and now--"
"Y-you won't give me up, Beverley?" cried Barrymaine, clinging to
his knees. "I wronged you, I know--n-now, but don't g-give me up.
I'm not afraid to d-die like a g-gentleman should, but--the
gallows--oh, my God!"
"No, you must be saved--from that!"
"Ah--w-will you help me?"
"That is why I came."
"W-what must I do?"
"Start for Dover--to-night."
"Yes--yes, Dover. B-but I have no money."
"Here are twenty guineas, they will help you well on your way. When
they are gone you shall have more."
"Beverley, I--wronged you, but I know now who my c-creditor really
is--I know who has been m-my enemy all along--oh, blind f-fool that
I've been,--but I know--now. And I think it's t-turned my brain.
Beverley,--my head's all confused--wish D-Dig were here. But I shall
be better s-soon. It was D-Dover you said, I think?"
"Yes,--but now, take off that coat."
"B-but it's the only one I've got!"
"You shall have mine," said Barnabas and, throwing aside his cloak,
he stripped off that marvellous garment (whose flattened revers were
never to become the vogue, after all), and laid it upon the table
beside Barrymaine who seemed as he leaned there to be shaken by
strange twitchings and tremblings.
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