Page:Walpole--portrait of man with red hair.djvu/275

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WITH RED HAIR
271

Adams's London life was ruined. She had never done you any harm."

"On December 14, 1912, you told your sisters that you hated the sight of them and their stuffy ways, that their attempts at culture were ridiculous, and that, like all American women, they were absurdly spoilt."

Through the smoke Harkness shouted: "I am sure I never said——"

The voice replied: "I am quoting your exact words."

"In a moment of pique I lost my temper. Of course I didn't mean——"

"On June 3, 1913, you went secretly into the library of a friend and stole his book of Rembrandt drawings. You knew in your heart that you had no intention of returning it to him, and when, some months later, he spoke of it, wishing to lend it to you and wondered why he could not find it you said nothing to him about your own possession of it."

Harkness blushed through the rolling smoke. "Yes, that was shameful," he cried. "But I knew that he didn't care about the book and I——"

"What have you to say against these charges?"

"They are all little things," Harkness cried, "small things. Every one does them...."

"Judgment! Judgment! Judgment!" cried the voice, and suddenly he felt himself moving in the