had intended to use. "As to you personally,
Mark," he said, coming back to the spot on which Robarts was
standing, "I do not wish to say anything that shall annoy you."

"You have said quite enough, Lord Lufton."

"You cannot be surprised that I should be angry and indignant at the
treatment I have received."

"You might, I think, have separated in your mind those who have
wronged you, if there has been such wrong, from those who have
only endeavoured to do your will and pleasure for you. That I, as
a clergyman, have been very wrong in taking any part whatsoever
in these matters, I am well aware. That as a man I have been
outrageously foolish in lending my name to Mr. Sowerby, I also know
well enough: it is, perhaps, as well that I should be told of this
somewhat rudely; but I certainly did not expect the lesson to come
from you."

"Well, there has been mischief enough. The question is, what we had
better now both do?"

"You have said what you mean to do. You will put the affair into the
hands of your lawyer."

"Not with any object of exposing you."

"Exposing me, Lord Lufton! Why, one would think that I had had the
handling of your money."

"You will misunderstand me. I think no such thing. But do you not
know yourself that if legal steps be taken in this wretched affair,
your arrangements with Sowerby will be brought to light?"

"My arrangements with Sowerby will consist in paying or having to
pay, on his account, a large sum of money, for which I have never had
and shall never have any consideration whatever."

"And what will be said about this stall at Barchester?"

"After the charge which you brought against me just now, I shall
decline to accept it." At this moment three or four other gentlemen
entered the room, and the conversation between our two friends was
stopped. They still remained standing near the fire, but for a few
minutes neither of them said anything. Robarts was waiting till Lord
Lufton should go away, and Lord Lufton had not yet said that which
he had come to say. At last he spoke again, almost in a whisper: "I
think it will be best to ask Sowerby to come to my rooms to-morrow,
and I think also that you should meet him there."

"I do not see any necessity for my presence," said Robarts. "It seems
probable that I shall suffer enough for meddling with your affairs,
and I will do so no more."

"Of course, I cannot make you come; but I think it will be only just
to Sowerby, and it will