Page:Moonfleet - John Meade Falkner.pdf/24

 it may come sooner than they think," he added, speaking more to himself than to us. I knew that he meant Mr. Maskew, and recollected that some had warned the magistrate that he had better keep out of Elzevir's way, for there was no knowing what a desperate man might do. And yet the two had met since in the village street, and nothing worse come of it than a scowling look from Block.

"Tush, man!" broke in the sexton, "it was the foulest deed ever man did; but let not thy mind brood on it, nor think how thou mayest get thyself avenged. Leave that to Providence; for He whose wisdom lets such things be done will surely see they meet their due reward. 'Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. And he took his hat off and hung it on a peg.

Block did not answer, but set three glasses on the table, and then took out from a cupboard a little round long-necked bottle, from which he poured out a glass for Ratsey and himself. Then he half filled the third, and pushed it along the table to me, saying, "There, take it, lad, if thou wilt; 'twill do thee no good, but may do thee no harm."

Ratsey raised his glass almost before it was filled. He sniffed the liquor and smacked his lips. "O rare milk of Ararat!" he said; "it is sweet and strong as that which shamed Noe.—And now get the backgammon-board, John, and set it for us on the table." So they fell to the game, and I took a sly sip at the liquor, but nearly choked myself, not being used to strong waters, and finding it heady and burning in the throat. Neither man spoke, and there was no