The Face of Rosenfeld — page 173: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

166 THE FACE OF ROSENLEL. ‘Sir, I have been here many times before, knocking at your door so softly that you might have mistaken the sound for the wind or the rattle of a rat behind the wood-work.” Maxey recoiled. «‘ Are you insane?” “No, no!” said Mr. Dye quickly. ‘‘It is not in- sanity. It is not even whimsical. It is, on the contrary, strictly logical. Sir, you have heard it said that @ man cannot serve two masters. J have sometimes tried. That was my trouble. One forced me to come and tell you something that I knew would be unwelcome to you. - What shall I call that one? Conscience?—remorse? The other caused me to desire that you should not receive me, but allow me to go away unheeded. Shall I call that other sympathy and regard for yourself or for somebody in whom you are interested? Never mind, it is not to the point now. Your ears were better than I thought they were, and you did hear me. Jam here. Sir, why did you not take my advice and have mearrested? Iam. a heartless, miserable wretch!’ Theatrical air or not, this last sentence came out with a sincerity and a force that startled the artist. ‘The trembling in the limbs increased; the somber man made an effort to loosen his cravat as if he were choking. Maxey hastily pushed a chair toward him. ‘*Sit down, sir. You are ill.” — ‘‘Sir, [am not ill. [deny it. JI decline all courtesies. Donot offer meany. If you do you will regret it when Iam done. Iam tobespurned and spit upon. ‘Chat is my only use in society—and [ may mention paren- thetically that society found that out some time ago. Don’t forget that, sir. Iwill not detain you. Iwill not