"My eyes are weak this morning," he said, in an unnaturally low tone of
voice. "The light hurts them."
He could find no more plausible excuse than that for concealing his face
in shadow from the scrutiny of the two men on either side of him. The
continuous moral irritation of his unhappy courtship--a courtship which
had never advanced beyond the frigid familiarity of kissing Natalie's
hand in the presence of others--had physically deteriorated him. Even
_his_ hardy nerves began to feel the long strain of suspicion that
had been laid unremittingly on them for weeks past. His power of
self-control--he knew it himself--was not to be relied on. He could hide
his face: he could no longer command it.
"Did you hear what I said, Richard?"
"I heard. Go on."
Sir Joseph proceeded, gathering confidence as he advanced.
"Half my fortune!" he repeated. "It's parting with half my life; it's
saying good-by forever to my dearest friend! My money has been such a
comfort to me, Richard; such a pleasant occupation for my mind.
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