ouncingallpretenceoffriendshipandcordiality,headoptedareserved,formal,butstillscrupulouslypolitedeportment.ThiswasthepointtowhichIhadwishedtobringhim,andIwasnowagaincomparativelyatmyease.Ididnot,itistrue,likemypositioninhishousebutbeingfreedfromtheannoyanceoffalseprofessionsanddouble-dealingIcouldendureit,especiallyasnoheroicsentimentofhatredorjealousyofthedirectordistractedmyphilosophicalsoulhehadnot,Ifound,woundedmeinaverytenderpoint,thewoundwassosoonandsoradicallyhealed,leavingonlyasenseofcontemptforthetreacherousfashioninwhichithadbeeninflicted,andalastingmistrustofthehandwhichIhaddetectedattemptingtostabinthedark.
ThisstateofthingscontinuedtillaboutthemiddleofJuly,andthentherewasalittlechangePeletcamehomeonenight,anhourafterhisusualtime,inastateofunequivocalintoxication,athinganomalouswithhimforifhehadsomeoftheworstfaultsofhiscountrymen,hehadalsooneatleastoftheirvirtues,i.e.sobriety.Sodrunk,however,washeuponthisoccasion,thatafterhavingrousedthewholeestablishment(exceptthepupils,whosedormitorybeingovertheclassesinabuildingapartfromthedwelling-house,wasconsequentlyoutofthereachofdisturbance)byviolentlyringingthehall-bellandorderinglunchtobebroughtinimmediately,forheimagineditwasnoon,whereasthecitybellshadjusttolledmidnightafterhavingfuriouslyratedtheservantsfortheirwantofpunctuality,andgoneneartochastisehispooroldmother,whoadvisedhimtogotobed,hebeganravingdreadfullyabout“lemauditAnglais,Creemsvort.”IhadnotyetretiredsomeGermanbooksIhadgotholdofhadkeptmeuplateIheardtheuproarbelow,andcoulddistinguishthedirector’svoiceexaltedinamannerasappallingasitwasunusual.Openingmydooralittle,Ibecameawareofademandonhispartfor“Creemsvort”tobebroughtdowntohimthathemightcuthisthroatonthehall-tableandwashhishonour,whichheaffirmedtobeinadirtycondition,ininfernalBritishblood.“Heiseithermadordrunk,”thoughtI,“andineithercasetheoldwomanandtheservantswillbethebetterofaman’sassistance,”soIdescendedstraighttothehall.Ifoundhimstaggeringabout,hiseyesinafinefrenzyrollin