comfortable terms of
trusting legal friendship with a man who had played such a prank in
reference to his marriage as this man had performed. Why, then, should
he still be concerned in a matter so distasteful to him? Why should he
not wipe his hands of it all and retreat? There was no act of parliament
compelling him to meddle with the dirt.

Such were his thoughts. But yet he knew that he was compelled. He did
feel himself bound to look after interests which he had taken in hand
now for many years. It had been his duty,--or the duty of some one
belonging to him,--to see into the deceit by which an attempt had been
made to rob Augustus Scarborough of his patrimony. It had been his duty,
for a while, to protect Mountjoy, and the creditors who had lent their
money to Mountjoy, from what he had believed to be a flagitious attempt.
Then, as soon as he felt that the flagitious attempt had been made
previously, in Mountjoy's favor, it became his duty to protect Augustus,
in spite of the strong personal dislike which from the first he had
conceived for that young man.

And then he doubtless had been attracted by the singularity of all that
had been done in the affair, and of all that was likely to be done. He
had said to himself that the matter should be made straight, and that he
would make it straight. Therefore, during his walk in the park, he
resolved that he must persevere.

At twelve o'clock he was ready to be taken up to the sick man's room.
When he entered it, under the custody of Miss Scarborough, he found that
Augustus was there. The squire was sitting up, with his feet supported,
and was apparently in a good humor. "Well, Mr. Grey," he said, "have you
settled this matter with Augustus?"

"I have settled nothing."

"He has not spoken to me about it at all," said Augustus.

"I told him I wanted a list of the creditors. He said that it was my
duty to supply it. That was the extent of our conversation."

"Which he thought it expedient to have in the presence of my friend, Mr.
Jones. Mr. Jones is very well in his way, but he is not acquainted with
all my affairs."

"Your son, Mr. Scarborough, has made no tender to me of any
information."

"Nor, sir, has Mr. Grey sought for any information from me." During this
little dialogue Mr. Scarborough turned his face, with a smile, from one
to the other, without a word.

"If Mr. Grey has anything to suggest in the way of advice, let him
suggest it," said Augustus.