Good-by, Eva!" And he held out his hand to our love, who had been watching him all this time with eyes of stone; but now she turned her back upon him without a word.

His face changed; the stormlight of passion and remorse played upon it for an instant; he made a step towards her, wheeled abruptly, and took me by the shoulder instead.
"Take care of her, Cole," said he.

"Whatever happens--take care of her." I caught him at the foot of the stairs.

I do not defend what I did.

But I had more ammunition; a few wadded bullets, caps, and powder-charges, loose in a jacket pocket; and I thrust them into one of his, upon a sudden impulse, not (as I think) altogether unaccountable, albeit (as I have said) so indefensible.
My back was hardly turned an instant.