Frederick Swainson

Acton's Feud Frederick Swainson

Book Excerpt: elp fromActon. There was something about the whole of his bearing in the caddishbusiness that told me plainly that we would have to treat him, not as afellow who had been betrayed to a vile action by a beastly temper and wasbitterly sorry for it, but as a fellow who hated us for finding it out. I saw Aspinall two days later, and as we walked towards the station Ibroached the matter."Certainly; I thought he tripped me, but he has written me and said howsorry he was for my accident, so, of course, it rests there.""Candidly, Aspinall, have you any doubt yourself?""No, old fellow. I'm sorry, but I really think he tripped me. He was riledat a little hustling from Shannon's lot, and I may have upset him myselfoccasionally. But it is a small matter."I looked at the bandages across his cheek, and I didn't think it small."But, Aspinall, even if we leave you out of the business, it isn't a smallmatter for us, especially for Bourne.""Well, no; hardly for you," he admitted. "'Twas a piRead More