["Shall I? shall I? shall I prostrate you, insolent old fool! soul and body?" thought Gammon.]
"I will instantly seek out Mr. Titmouse," continued the earl, "and will soon get at the bottom of this—this—monstrous transaction."
"I cannot, of course, control your Lordship's motions. If you do apply to Mr. Titmouse, you will in all probability receive the information you seek for—that is, if Mr. Titmouse dare, without first consulting me"——
"If—Mr.—Titmouse—dare, sir?" echoed the earl, calmly and scornfully.
"Yes—dare!" furiously retorted Gammon, his eye, as it were, momentarily flashing fire.
"Sir, this is very highly amusing!" said Lord Dreddlington, trying to smile; but it was impossible. His hands trembled so much that he could not draw on his glove without great effort.
"To me, my Lord, it is very—very painful," replied Gammon, with an agitation which he could not conceal—"not painful on my own account, but your Lordship's"——
"Sir, I appreciate your presumptuous sympathy," interrupted Lord Dreddlington. "In the mean while, you may depend upon my taking steps forthwith of a somewhat decisive character. We shall see, sir, how long transactions of this sort can be concealed."
At this point, Gammon had finally determined upon making his long-dreaded disclosure to the Earl of Dreddlington—one which he knew would instantly topple him down headlong over the battlements of his lofty and unapproachable pride, as though he had been struck by lightning. Gammon felt himself getting colder every minute—his agitation driving the blood from his extremities back upon his heart.
"Your Lordship has spoken of concealment," he commenced with visible emotion.—"Your Lordship's offensive and most uncalled-for observations upon my motives and conduct, irritated me for the moment—but that is gone by. They have, however, worked my feelings up to a point which will enable me, now, perhaps, better than on any future occasion, to make a disclosure to your Lordship of a secret, which ever since it unhappily came to my knowledge, so help me Heaven! has made me the most miserable of men." There was something in Gammon's countenance and manner which compelled the earl to sit down again in the chair from which he had risen, and where he remained gazing in wondering silence at Gammon, who proceeded—"It is a communication which will require all your Lordship's strength of mind to prevent its overpowering you"——