ind.

I hope that, rather than myself, that bed, full of international
confusion, is to blame for the wicked ideas which assailed me while I
could not even try to sleep. One of them--and a loyal daughter could
scarcely have a worse one--was that my own dear father, knowing Lord
Castlewood's bad behavior, and his own sad plight in consequence, and
through that knowledge caring little to avenge his death, for wife and
children's sake preferred to foil inquiry rather than confront the
truth and challenge it. He might not have meant to go so far, at first
beginning with it; but, starting once, might be driven on by grievous
loss, and bitter sense of recreant friends, and the bleak despair of a
homeless world before him. And serving as the scape-goat thus, he might
have received from the real culprit a pledge for concealment of the
family disgrace.

CHAPTER XLVIII

A RETURN CALL

In the morning I labored to dismiss these thoughts, these shameful
suspicions, almost as injurious to my father's honor as it was to
suspect him of the crime itself. And calling back my memories of him,
and dwelling on what Mr. Shovelin said, and Uncle Sam and others, I
became quite happy in the firm conviction that I ought to be put upon
bread and water for having such vile visions. Then suddenly a thing came
to my mind which shattered happy penitence.

Major Hockin had spoken of another purpose which he had in store while
bringing me thus to London--another object, that is to say, besides the
opening of the trinket. And this his second intention was to "have it
out," as he expressed it, "with that league of curs and serpents, Vypan,
Goad, and Terryer." This was the partnership whose card of business had
been delivered at the sawmills under circumstances which, to say the
least, required explanation. And the Major, with strong words and tugs
of his head-crest, had vowed to get that explanation, or else put the
lot of them into a police dock.

Moreover, when, at the opening of the locket, I did not think fit to
show the lapidary what I had found inside it, except the painting
on ivory (which proved to be as he expected), and when my companion
suppressed curiosity at the risk of constitution, and while I could
scarcely tell what I was about (through sudden shock and stupidity), I
must have been hurried on to tell Major Hockin the whole of the private
things I had discovered. For, in truth, there was scarcely any time
to think; and I was