Sir Sidney Delaware started up off his chair, but immediately resumed his seat again: and another look of intelligence passed between Mr. Egerton and Dr. Wilton.
"I appeal to Dr. Wilton," added Captain Delaware, "if such a thing be not probable."
"Most probable in his case," replied Dr. Wilton. "Indeed, more than probable!"
"Pray, sir, are you now acting as a magistrate or as a witness?" demanded Mr. Tims. "If as the latter, I would ask you, whether Mr. Beauchamp did not pass the day at your house yesterday, which I hear in the village that he did, beyond all doubt?"
"Then you have heard, sir, what was not the case!" replied Dr. Wilton.
"Pray, at what hour did he leave your house sir?" demanded Mr. Tims, taking care to preserve so respectful a tone as to afford no excuse for refusing an answer to his question.
"I should not hold myself bound to reply to you sir," said the clergyman; "but a sense of justice must of course supersede every other consideration, whether indignation at impudence, or contempt for low cunning; and therefore I reply, that he left my house, I should suppose, about three o'clock."
"I will presume to ask one question more, if I am permitted," said the unruffled Mr. Peter Tims, bowing to Mr. Egerton, who was evidently listening with interest. "At Mr. Beauchamp's departure, Dr. Wilton did he tell you whither he was about to turn his steps?"
Dr. Wilton fidgeted on his seat; but truth was paramount, and he answered, "He certainly implied that he was going to London."
"Did he take the road which leads in that direction?" asked Mr. Tims.