There was very little hesitation in the manner in which Sloper made this reply, and no inference could be drawn from it. But Lord Trimmerstone saw that there was an unusual awkwardness of manner about his friend, so that his suspicions continued unabated though unconfirmed. With a view therefore of probing him, his lordship said, with more significance of expression than he had adopted before:—
“Have you no suspicion that this very young gentleman has a partner rather older than himself?”
No immediate answer was given to this inquiry; and Lord Trimmerstone, after proposing the question, kept his eyes firmly fixed on his friend with a most searching and almost threatening expression. Sloper looked pale, and was angry, and rose from his seat with great indignation, replying:
“Do you mean to insinuate, by that question, any thing dishonorable against me, my lord? I really do not understand your question. What am I to know about his partners?”
This was quite enough to satisfy his lordship that there was some ground for his suspicions; and feeling therefore indignant at the treachery of his pretended friend, he returned with considerable warmth, almost with violence:
“I do mean to insinuate something dishonorable against you; I mean to say that you have now in your possession damning proofs of your guilt and your meanness. Clear yourself if you can.”
With a contemptuous sneer, Mr. Singleton Sloper replied: “Upon my word, I shall not take the trouble to argue with a madman. I must leave you, my lord, for the present; we shall meet again shortly, and then I will give you or you shall give me satisfaction.”
“You shall not leave this apartment, sir, till I have satisfied myself of the extent of your treachery. You have conspired with that young thief to defraud me, and I saw you divide the plunder; you have my note now in your possession.”
Mr. Singleton Sloper had not much of a character to lose, but what little he had he was desirous of preserving. Seeing that Lord Trimmerstone was resolute, and knowing that his own case was really a bad one, he endeavoured to soften matters down as well as he could; and with that cowardice which continually attends guilt, he pleaded guilty to the accusation, and urged his own necessity as a plea. Lord Trimmerstone should have spurned such a caitiff from him with contempt; but Lord Trimmerstone recollected that his own dear character was as much implicated as that of his friend, Mr. Singleton Sloper: they were, in fact, in each other’s power. Then did his lordship gradually descend from his high and towering attitude, and feel that he himself was but one degree more respectable than that very Sloper against whom he was beginning to launch the bolts of his mighty indignation, and the shafts of his withering contempt.