"Ah,—that's just the question. If anybody had asked me, I should have said that you were the man of all men whom I could have best trusted."
"Do you doubt it now?"
"I don't know what to think."
"Do you mean to say that you suspect me,—and your daughter too?"
"No;—by heavens! Poor dear. If I suspected her, there would be an end of all things with me. I could never get over that. No; I don't suspect her!" Sir Marmaduke had now dropped his affected tone, and was speaking with natural energy.
"But you do me?"
"No;—if I did, I don't suppose I should be sitting with you here; but they tell me—"
"They tell you what?"
"They tell me that,—that you did not behave wisely about it. Why could you not let her alone when you found out how matters were going?"
"Who has been telling you this, Rowley?"