He
was very weak--weak naturally, and weaker through a long course of
alcohol. He was, therefore, prone to obscure, crooked, silly
devices, at any rate when he was sober. Half drunk he was very bold;
but when he had no liquor inside him he could NOT do what was
straight. He had not strength sufficient, if two courses were open,
to cast aside the one for which there were the fewer and less
conclusive reasons, and to take the proper path, as if no other were
before him. A sane, strong person is not the prey of reasons: a
person like Mr. Secretary can never free himself from them, and after
he has arrived at some kind of determination is still uncertain and
harks back. With the roar of the flames of the Cities of the Plain
in his ears, he stops, and is half afraid that it was his duty after
all to stay and try and put them out. The Secretary, therefore,
pondered again. The money was given on no condition that was worth
anything. For aught he knew, the Commissioner had his books and
papers already. He could take the guineas and be just as free as he
was before. He could even give a part of it to the funds of the
Friends. There obtruded, moreover, visions of Newgate, and his hands
slowly crept to the coins.
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