character and your creditable conduct, it is
only your due that I should absolve you at once of the mean motive. I
believe you are as incapable as I am--I can say no more--of turning
to mercenary account any discoveries you might make to Miss Gwilt's
prejudice in Miss Gwilt's past life. Shall I go on any further? or would
you prefer, on second thoughts, opening your mind frankly to me of your
own accord?"

"I should prefer not interrupting you, sir," said Mr. Bashwood.

"As you please," pursued Pedgift Senior. "Having absolved you of the
mean motive, I come to the generous motive next. It is possible that you
are an unusually grateful man; and it is certain that Mr. Armadale has
been remarkably kind to you. After employing you under Mr. Midwinter, in
the steward's office, he has had confidence enough in your honesty and
your capacity, now his friend has left him, to put his business entirely
and unreservedly in your hands. It's not in my experience of human
nature--but it may be possible, nevertheless--that you are so
gratefully sensible of that confidence, and so gratefully interested
in your employer's welfare, that you can't see him, in his friendless
position, going straight to his own disgrace and ruin, without making
an effort to save him. To put it in two words. Is it your idea that Mr.
Armadale might be prevented from marrying Miss Gwilt, if he could be
informed in time of her real character? And do you wish to be the man
who opens his eyes to the truth? If that is the case--"

He stopped in astonishment. Acting under some uncontrollable impulse,
Mr. Bashwood had started to his feet. He stood, with his withered face
lit up by a sudden irradiation from within, which made him look younger
than his age by a good twenty years--he stood, gasping for breath enough
to speak, and gesticulated entreatingly at the lawyer with both hands.

"Say it again, sir!" he burst out, eagerly, recovering his breath before
Pedgift Senior had recovered his surprise. "The question about Mr.
Armadale, sir!--only once more!--only once more, Mr. Pedgift, please!"

With his practiced observation closely and distrustfully at work on Mr.
Bashwood' s face, Pedgift Senior motioned to him to sit down again, and
put the question for the second time.

"Do I think," said Mr. Bashwood, repeating the sense, but not the words
of the question, "that Mr. Armadale might be parted from Miss Gwilt, if
she could be shown to him as she really is? Yes, s