ur good intention, and thus restore
yourself to his confidence?'

'I have said that I am bound not to mention the purpose.'

'Unfortunate!' said Philip; then, while Guy bit his lip till it bled,
the pain really a relief, by giving some vent to his anger at the
implied doubt, he went on,--'If it is impossible to clear this up, the
next advice I would give is, that you should show what your expenditure
has been; lay your accounts before him, and let them justify you.'

Most people would have resented this as an impertinent proposal, were
it only that doing so would have served to conceal the awkward fact
that the accounts had not been kept at all. Guy had never been taught
to regard exactness in this respect as a duty, had no natural taste for
precision, and did not feel responsible to any person; nor if he had
kept any, could he have shown them, without exposing his uncle. To
refuse, would, however, be a subterfuge, and after a moment, he made an
effort, and confessed he had none to show, though he knew Philip would
despise him for it as a fool, and probably take it as positive evidence
against him.

It would have been more bearable if Philip would but have said 'How
foolish,' instead of drily repeating 'Unfortunate!'

After a pause, during which Guy was not sufficiently master of himself
to speak, Philip added--'Then this matter of the thousand pounds is to
be passed over? You have no explanation to offer?'

'No:' and again he paused. 'When my word is not accepted, I have no more
to say. But this is not the point. What I would know is, what are the
calumnies that accuse me of having gamed? If you really wish to do me
a service, you will give me an opportunity of answering these precious
proofs.'

'I will' answered Philip; who could venture on doing so himself, though,
for his sister's sake, it was unsafe to trust Mr. Edmonstone, with whom
what was not an absolute secret was not a secret at all. 'My uncle knows
that a thirty pound cheque of his, in your name, was paid by you to a
notorious gamester.'

Guy did not shrink, as he simply answered--'It is true.'

'Yet you have neither played, nor betted, nor done anything that could
come under the definition of gambling?'

'No.'

'Then why this payment?'

'I cannot explain that. I know appearances are against me,' replied Guy
steadily, and with less irritation than he had hitherto shown. I once
thought my simple word would have sufficed, but, since it seems tha