"When—why?"
"I have been a whole month at the Court, and am now due at a friend's house near—near London."
"London again? The last time you started for London, Trelawny gave me some hints that you never went in that direction so far as the borders of Devonshire. I can't understand your total indifference to the society of ladies, and this resolute celibacy at your time of life. D—n it, sir, it don't look well! and I only hope you hav'n't conceived some unworthy attachment—I mean unworthy the name of Tresilian."
"I have not, sir," replied the other, almost angrily for he still felt the keen legal eye of Basset upon him. "I shall never, I hope, do anything unworthy of the name we bear in common."
"Thank you, Arthur boy. Give me your hand."
"And now, uncle—leaving you and Basset to the Madeira—I'll smoke a cigar in the stable, and look at that horse I mean to take away with me to-morrow."
And anxious to close a conversation, the subject of which pained him deeply, Arthur Tresilian left the stately dining-room, and strolled over the beautiful lawn towards the stable court.
"Can Basset suspect me? Does he know anything? No! no!—he cannot! My poor Diana!" he muttered, "still this humiliating concealment, and no hope save through the death of that poor old man. Accursed be this silly pride of birth!"
* * * * *
"How long papa has been away from us—a whole month!"