"It can't be right, sir!" repeated Samuel.
And suddenly the other sat forward in his chair. "All right," he said-
-"Maybe it isn't. But what are you going to do about it?"
There was anger in his voice, and Samuel was frightened into silence.
There was a pause while they stared at each other.
"I'm on top!" exclaimed Bertie. "I'm on top, and I'm going to stay on
top--don't you see? The game's in my hands; and if I please to get
drunk, I get drunk. And you will take your orders and mind your own
business. And what have you to say to that?"
"I presume, sir," said Samuel, his voice almost a whisper, "I can
leave your service."
"Yes," said the other--"and then either you'll starve, or else you'll
go to somebody else who has money, and ask him to give you a job. And
then you'll take your orders from him, and keep your opinions to
yourself. Don't you see?"
"Yes," said Samuel, lowering his eyes--"I see."
"All right," said Bertie; and he rose unsteadily to his feet. "Now, if
you please," said he, "you'll go back to Belle, wherever you've left
her, and take her a message for me."
"Yes, sir," said Samuel.
"Tell her I'm through with her, and I don't want to see her again.
I'll have a couple of hundred dollars a month sent to her so long as
she lets me alone. If she writes to me or bothers me in any way,
she'll get nothing. And that's all."
"Yes, sir," said Samuel.
Pages:
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114