Page:Tales of my landlord (Volume 1).djvu/107

He rose hastily; but, ere he withdrew into the hut, he added, with great vehemence, "Yet, lest you still think my apparent benefits to mankind flow from the stupid and servile source, called love of our fellow-creatures, know, that, were there a man who had annihilated my soul's dearest hope—who had torn my heart to mammocks, and seared my brain till it glowed like a volcano, and were that man's fortune and life in my power as completely as this frail pot-sherd," (he snatched up an earthen cup which stood beside him,) "I would not dash him into atoms thus—" (he flung the vessel with fury against the wall.) "No!" (he spoke more composed, but with the utmost bitterness,) "I would pamper him with wealth and power to influence his evil passions, and to fulfil his evil designs; he should lack no means of vice and villainy; he should be the centre of a whirlpool that itself should know neither rest nor peace, but boil with unceasing fury, while it