Maurice Hinchford seated himself opposite Mr. Wesden, and commenced his narrative, disguising and extenuating nothing, but attempting to analyze the real motives which had actuated his past conduct—motives which had been a little incomprehensible, taken altogether, and were therefore difficult to make clear before an auditor, as we have seen in our preceding chapter.
Mr. Wesden rubbed the back of his ear, stared hard over Maurice's head at the opposite wall, till Maurice looked behind him to see what was nailed up there; wound up by an emphatic "Humph!" when Maurice had concluded.
"Therefore, you see I was not so very much to blame, sir—that is, that there were at least extenuating circumstances."
"Were they, though?"
"Why, surely I have proved that?"
"Can't say you have—can't say that I plainly see it at all. But, then, I haven't so clear a head as I used to have—oh! not by a long way!"
"I hope at least you understand that I am heartily ashamed of my past conduct?"
"I am glad to hear that, sir."
"I have become a different man."
"Been in a reformatory, perhaps?" suggested Mr. Wesden.