“She coloured at this. ‘Yes, I know; but there were reasonable excuses for that, and no one had time to think.’
“‘Two people had, Darthea.’
“‘We will let that pass, Jack. Don’t play with me.’
“Then, driven to the wall, so to speak, I told her of the sad revelation Andre had made to Hugh, and how, being Hugh’s enemy, Arthur had been base enough to involve him in an affair which might have been his ruin.
“‘Yes, yes,’ she said, ‘I see; but who could know, or who think to use such knowledge?’
“I was taken aback at her seeming to have any doubt. I coldly set myself to tell her of Arthur’s double dealing about the estate, and of how he had made Hugh’s father believe he was minded to consider the ways of Friends, and at last of how he had borrowed money and had set poor Hugh’s half-demented father against him. I did not spare her or him, and the half of what I said I have not set down. The Arnold business I did return to, seeing that it struck her, or seemed to, less than it did me; for to my mind it was the worst.
“‘Darthea,’ I said, ‘how could a man of honour or even of good feeling put any gentleman in such peril of worse than death? There were Tories enough to have done his shameful errand. But oh, dear Darthea, to suggest to send on such business an open, frank enemy,—his cousin too,—that was too bad for the lowest and vilest!’
“‘Hush!’ she said, ‘I know enough. You have been both brave and good. You are the best man I know, Jack Warder, and the kindest. I wish I loved you. I am not worthy of you. Now go away.’
“I obeyed her, and this was so far the end of a miserable affair. What Hugh will say to Miss Wynne, God knows. I have given a thorough rascal his dues; but I cannot do this and not tell him to his face what I have said behind his back.
“This was at night, but I had no better counsel in the morning.