“Nay, why should you be? Among stars would you not wish to shine the brightest? ’Tis well that some soldiers and gentlemen are not so very scrupulous; for don’t you see, young sir, that it makes your great virtue shine with double lustre.”
Albert did not wholly relish the tone of irony in which this was said, and his cheek slightly flushed as he replied,—
“It were unbecoming in me to dispute with you, sir.”
There was a silence of some moments’ duration, and then Learmont said, abruptly,—
“You will follow the man home upon whose track I will put you. Awaken in his mind no shadow of doubt, or all—I—I mean much is lost. He is crafty; but bear this in mind through life—to outwit the crafty, you have but to be simple.”
“I will do my best, sir.”
“Do so, and your reward will be commensurate with your deserts. Surely he will come.”
“I hope you will find him honester than you suppose him to be,” remarked Albert.
“You hope I may find him honest! May all the torments of hell consume him!”
“Sir?”