Then he stepped over and opened the
only window.
"Sit down," he said, turning on Ruthven; and he seated himself and
crossed one leg over the other. Ruthven remained standing.
"This--this thing," began Ruthven in a voice made husky and indistinct
through fury, "this ruffianly behaviour amounts to assault."
"As you choose," nodded Selwyn, almost listlessly, "but be quiet; I've
something to think of besides your convenience."
For a few moments he sat silent, thoughtful, narrowing eyes considering
the patterns on the rug at his feet; and Ruthven, weak with rage and
apprehension, was forced to stand there awaiting the pleasure of a man
of whom he had suddenly become horribly afraid.
And at last Selwyn, emerging from his pallid reverie, straightened out,
shaking his broad shoulders as though to free him of that black spectre
perching there.
"Ruthven," he said, "a few years ago you persuaded my wife to leave me;
and I have never punished you. There were two reasons why I did not: the
first was because I did not wish to punish her, and any blow at you
would have reached her heavily.
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