"And you do not look for any reward of your services, of course?"
"I wish for none, sir, but her relief."
"Well, it don't signify," said Thorn with a mixture of expressions in his face,--"if I believed you, which I don't,--it don't signify a hair what you do, when once this matter is known. I should never think of advancing my pretensions into a felon's family."
"You know that the lady in whose welfare you take so much interest will in that case suffer aggravated distress as having been the means of hindering Mr. Rossitur's escape,"
"Can't help it," said Thorn, beating the table with a ruler;--"so she has; she must suffer for it. It isn't my fault."
"You are willing then to abide the consequences of a full disclosure of all the circumstances?--for part will not come out without the whole?"
"There is happily nobody to tell them," said Thorn with a sneer.
"Pardon me--they will not only be told, but known thoroughly in all the circles in this country that know Mr. Thorn's name."
"The lady" said Thorn in the same tone, "would hardly relish such a publication of her name--her welfare would be scantily advantaged by it."
"I will take the risk of that upon myself," said Mr. Carleton quietly; "and the charge of the other."