‘Then why, why did you not denounce him in time?’
‘Because I did not know him until after your mother’s wedding; and then I thought she would learn the truth only too soon for her peace of mind.’
‘How did you discover him, then?’
‘The scoundrel revealed himself. He came to me, and insolently told me that, knowing the state of affairs between Shield and me, he thought he would do me a good service. So he had given him a blow which he would not get over in a hurry. I knew something of the man, and at once suspected his meaning. I inquired how he had struck the blow; and he explained that it was he who had brought about matters so that when Shield came home he found his sweetheart already married to somebody else.’
Poor Madge was weeping bitter tears in her heart, but there were none in her eyes: they were full of eagerness and wonder. She was drawing nearer and nearer to the truth, which would enable her to effect the purpose Philip so much desired.
‘It is the advantage of my nature,’ Mr Hadleigh went on calmly, ‘that I can listen to a scoundrel without losing temper. On this occasion, I asked how he knew that Shield had returned. “I have seen him,” he said; “and he is cut up enough to please even you. Now, having done this job for you, I expect you to give me something for my trouble.”—“How much?”—“A hundred is not too much to ask for the satisfaction of knowing that your bitterest foe has got it hot.”—I asked him to write down that he had been the first to report in the village that Austin Shield was married, although at the time he had no authority for the statement.—“That looks like a confession,” he said.—“Exactly. I mean it to be one.”—After thinking for a moment, the fellow said: “All right; it won’t matter to me, for to-morrow I am off to the diggings.”’
Mr Hadleigh stopped and looked out at the window again, as if the scene he was recalling even now filled him with indignation. He resumed:
‘When he had written the memorandum and signed it, I told him my opinion of his villainous transaction, and threatened to have him horsewhipped through the village. At the same time I rang the bell. Although disappointed, “Bah!” said he; “I always thought you were a sneak, without the pluck to give the fellow who hates you a hiding. Shield has the right stuff in him; he gave me the money for telling him that you employed me to tell the lie. That paper you swindled out of me isn’t worth a rap. You have no witnesses.”—He got out of the room before I could reach him, and escaped pursuit.... He was right; the paper was useless to me.’
‘Who was the man?’
‘Richard Towers. Your aunt will tell you what a scamp he was.’