And he never guessed.
"I had two bad moments; by which I mean moments of unscientific
impatience, sudden unworthy impulses to kill him and get rid of
the job. Unscientific, unworthy--unsportsmanlike--to kill your
priceless fish before he has even felt the hook!
"The second bad moment I overcame (I am proud to report) of my
own strength of will. It happened at a bend of the Corniche,
when our driver pulled up on the edge of a really nasty
precipice and invited us to admire the view. It being the hour
for _dejeuner_, we haled our basket out of the carriage, and
spread our meal on the parapet. Farrell sat perched there with
his back to the sea, and made unpleasant noises, gnawing at a
chicken-bone. I wanted to see how he'd fall backwards and watch
him strike the beach. . . .
"Well, I was glad when the impulse was conquered and I had proved
my self-control: because the previous temptation had been a
close call, and I believe it would have bowled me out but for a
special interposition of--Providence.
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