"
"If they have the power, they must sell it."
"And all the world will know the facts."
"So it must be. Of the faults which a man commits he must bear the
punishment. If it were only myself!"
"That's where it is, Mr. Robarts. Think what your wife will have to
suffer in going through such misery as that! You had better take my
advice. Lord Lufton, I am sure--" But the very name of Lord Lufton,
his sister's lover, again gave him courage. He thought, too, of the
accusations which Lord Lufton had brought against him on that night,
when he had come to him in the coffee-room of the hotel, and he felt
that it was impossible that he should apply to him for such aid. It
would be better to tell all to Lady Lufton! That she would relieve
him, let the cost to herself be what it might, he was very sure. Only
this;--that in looking to her for assistance he would be forced to
bite the dust in very deed.
"Thank you, Mr. Forrest, but I have made up my mind. Do not
think that I am the less obliged to you for your disinterested
kindness,--for I know that it is disinterested; but this I think I
may confidently say, that not even to avert so terrible a calamity
will I again put my name to any bill. Even if you could take my own
promise to pay without the addition of any second name, I would
not do it.
Pages:
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744
745
746
747
748
749
750
751
752
753
754
755
756
757
758
759
760
761