"
"I see what you mean," the other repeated. She toyed
with the bread-crumbs about her plate, and reflectively
watched their manipulation into squares and triangles
as she went on. "But may that not be merely the visible
sign of an exceptionally strong and masterful character?
And isn't it, after all, the result of circumstances
whether such a character makes, as you put it, a hundred
thousand dead men, or enriches a hundred thousand lives
instead? We agree, let us say, that this Mr. Thorpe
impresses us both as a powerful sort of personality.
The question arises, How will he use his power? On that point,
we look for evidence. You see a dull glaze in his eye,
and you draw hostile conclusions from it. I reply that it
may mean no more than that he is sleepy. But, on the
other hand, I bring proofs that are actively in his favour.
He is, as you say, idolized by the only two members of his
family that we have seen--persons, moreover, who have been
brought up in ways different to his own, and who would
not start, therefore, with prejudices in his favour.
Beyond that, I know of two cases in which he has behaved,
or rather undertaken to behave, with really lavish
generosity--and in neither case was there any claim upon
him of a substantial nature. He seems to me, in fact,
quite too much disposed to share his fortune with Tom,
Dick, and Harry--anybody who excites his sympathy or gets
into his affections.
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