own convictions led me
to believe that the hidden contents of the parchment concealed a
transaction of the meanest and the most fraudulent kind.

I had not formed this conclusion in consequence of Sir Percival's
refusal to show the writing or to explain it, for that refusal might
well have proceeded from his obstinate disposition and his domineering
temper alone. My sole motive for distrusting his honesty sprang from
the change which I had observed in his language and his manners at
Blackwater Park, a change which convinced me that he had been acting a
part throughout the whole period of his probation at Limmeridge House.
His elaborate delicacy, his ceremonious politeness which harmonised so
agreeably with Mr. Gilmore's old-fashioned notions, his modesty with
Laura, his candour with me, his moderation with Mr. Fairlie--all these
were the artifices of a mean, cunning, and brutal man, who had dropped
his disguise when his practised duplicity had gained its end, and had
openly shown himself in the library on that very day. I say nothing of
the grief which this discovery caused me on Laura's account, for it is
not to be expressed by any words of mine. I only refer to it at all,
because it decided me to oppose her signing the parchment, whatever the
consequences might be, unless she was first made acquainted with the
contents.

Under these circumstances, the one chance for us when to-morrow came
was to be provided with an objection to giving the signature, which
might rest on sufficiently firm commercial or legal grounds to shake
Sir Percival's resolution, and to make him suspect that we two women
understood the laws and obligations of business as well as himself.

After some pondering, I determined to write to the only honest man
within reach whom we could trust to help us discreetly in our forlorn
situation. That man was Mr. Gilmore's partner, Mr. Kyrle, who
conducted the business now that our old friend had been obliged to
withdraw from it, and to leave London on account of his health. I
explained to Laura that I had Mr. Gilmore's own authority for placing
implicit confidence in his partner's integrity, discretion, and
accurate knowledge of all her affairs, and with her full approval I sat
down at once to write the letter, I began by stating our position to
Mr. Kyrle exactly as it was, and then asked for his advice in return,
expressed in plain, downright terms which he could comprehend without
any danger of misin