"
He then stood still, looking at me for a moment or two, and I beg to
assert that I looked as fully at him. There was, at any rate, no
cause why I should tremble before him. I was not his nephew, nor
was I responsible for his nephew's doings towards him. Two of his
servants were behind him, and on my side there stood a boy and girl
belonging to the inn. They, however, could not understand a word of
English. I saw that he was hesitating, but at last he spoke out. I
confess, now, that his words, when they were spoken, did, at the
first moment, make me tremble.
"I have to charge you," said he, "with eloping with my niece, and I
demand of you to inform me where she is. You are perfectly aware
that I am her guardian by law."
I did tremble;--not that I cared much for Sir William's
guardianship, but I saw before me so terrible an embarrassment! And
then I felt so thoroughly abashed in that I had allowed myself to be
so deceived! It all came back upon me in a moment, and covered me
with a shame that even made me blush. I had travelled through the
desert with a woman for days, and had not discovered her, though she
had given me a thousand signs.
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