Of course I did not leave him to pursue this occupation in quiet: I made several attempts to snatch the book from his hands, but he held it too firmly for that; I upbraided him in bitterness and scorn for his mean and dishonourable conduct, but that had no effect upon him; and, finally, I extinguished both the candles, but he only wheeled round to the fire, and raising a blaze sufficient for his purposes, calmly continued the investigation. I had serious thoughts of getting a pitcher of water and extinguishing that light too; but it was evident his curiosity was too keenly excited to be quenched by that, and the more I manifested my anxiety to baffle his scrutiny, the greater would be his determination to persist in it-- besides it was too late.
`It seems very interesting, love,' said he, lifting his head and turning to where I stood wringing my hands in silent rage and anguish; `but it's rather long; I'll look at it some other time;--and meanwhile, I'll trouble you for your keys, my dear.'
`What keys?'
`The keys of your cabinet, desk, drawers, and whatever else you possess,' said he, rising and holding out his hand.
`I've not got them,' I replied. The key of my desk, in fact, was, at that moment, in the lock, and the others were attached to it.
`Then you must send for them,' said he; `and if that old bitch, Rachel, doesn't immediately deliver them up, she tramps bag and baggage to-morrow.'
`She doesn't know where they are,' I answered, quietly placing my hand upon them, and taking them from the desk, as I thought, unobserved. `I know, but I shall not give them up without a reason.'
`And I know, too,' said he, suddenly seizing my closed hand and rudely abstracting them from it. He then took up one of the candles and relighted it by thrusting it into the fire.
`Now then,' sneered he, `we must have a confiscation of property. But first, let us take a peep into the studio.'
And putting the keys into his pocket, he walked into the library. I followed, whether with the dim idea of preventing mischief or only to know the worst I can hardly tell. My painting materials were laid together on the corner table, ready for to-morrow's use, and only covered with a cloth. He soon spied them out, and putting down the candle, deliberately proceeded to cast them into the fire--palette, paints, bladders, pencils, brushes, varnish--I saw them all consumed--the palette knives snapped in two--the oil and turpentine sent hissing and roaring up the chimney. He then rang the bell.
`Benson, take those things away,' said he, pointing to the easel, canvass, and stretcher;' `and tell the housemaid she may kindle the fire with them: your mistress won't want them any more.'
Benson paused aghast and looked at me.
`Take them away, Benson,' said I; and his master muttered an oath.
`And this and all, sir?' said the astonished servant referring to the half-finished picture.