Ruthven--and now the cylinder spins around in a
manner perfectly trustworthy. So, as I was saying, I have this very
excellent and serviceable weapon, and shall give myself the pleasure of
using it on you if you ever commence any such action for divorce or
separation against your wife. This is final."
Ruthven stared at him as though hypnotised.
"Don't mistake me," added Selwyn, a trifle wearily. "I am not compelling
you to decency for the purpose of punishing _you_; men never trouble
themselves to punish vermin--they simply exterminate them, or they
retreat and avoid them. I merely mean that you shall never again bring
publicity and shame upon your wife--even though now, mercifully enough,
she has not the faintest idea that you are what a complacent law calls
her husband."
A slow blaze lighted up his eyes, and he got up from his chair.
"You decadent little beast!" he said slowly, "do you suppose that the
dirty accident of your intrusion into an honest man's life could
dissolve the divine compact of wedlock? Soil it--yes; besmirch it,
render it superficially unclean, unfit, nauseous--yes.
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