"Absolutely," Aynesworth answered hurriedly. "It won't take long, but
there are things which you must know."
"Very well," she answered, "I am listening."
Aynesworth inclined his head towards the place where Wingrave sat.
"I will admit," he said, "that the man there, whom I have served for
the last four years and more, never deceived me as to his real
character and intentions. He had been badly treated by a woman, and he
told me plainly that he entered into life again at war with his
fellows. Where he could see an opportunity of doing evil, he meant to
do it; where he could bring misery and suffering upon anyone with whom
he came into contact, he meant to grasp the opportunity. I listened to
him, but I never believed. I told myself that it would be interesting
to watch his life, and to see the gradual, inevitable humanizing of
the man. So I entered his service, and have remained in it until
today."
He turned more directly towards Juliet. She was listening breathlessly
to every word.
"Juliet," he said, "he has kept his word. I have been by his side, and
I speak of the things I know. He has sought no one's friendship who
has not suffered for it, there is not a man or woman living who owes
him the acknowledgment of a single act of kindness. I have seen him
deliberately scheme to bring about the ruin of a harmless little
woman. I have seen him exact his pound of flesh, even at the cost of
ruin, from a boy.
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