idea of the calculation which Augustus was making for his own government.  According to Mr. Grey’s reading of all the facts of the case, such were the suspicions which Augustus entertained in the matter.  Otherwise, why should he be anxious to take a step which would redound only to the advantage of the creditors?  He was quite certain that no money would be paid, at any rate, by Augustus, solely with the view of honestly settling their claims.

But there was another subject which troubled his mind excessively as he walked across the park.  Why should he soil his hands, or, at any rate, trouble his conscience, with an affair so unclean, so perplexed, and so troublesome?  Why was he there at Tretton at all, to be insulted by a young blackguard such as he believed Augustus Scarborough to be?  Augustus Scarborough, he knew, suspected him.  But he, in return, suspected Augustus Scarborough.  The creditors suspected him.  Mountjoy suspected him.  The squire did not suspect him, but he suspected the squire.  He never could again feel himself to be on comfortable terms of trusting legal friendship with a man who had played such a prank in reference to his marriage as this man had performed.  Why, then, should he still be concerned in a matter so distasteful to him?  Why should he not wipe his hands of it all and retreat?  There was no act of parliament compelling him to meddle with the dirt.

Such were his thoughts.  But yet he knew that he was compelled.  He did feel himself bound to look after interests which he had taken in hand now for many years.  It had been his duty,—­or the duty of some one belonging to him,—­to see into the deceit by which an attempt had been made to rob Augustus Scarborough of his patrimony.  It had been his duty, for a while, to protect Mountjoy, and the creditors who had lent their money to Mountjoy, from what he had believed to be a flagitious attempt.  Then, as soon as he felt that the flagitious attempt had been made previously, in Mountjoy’s favor, it became his duty to protect Augustus, in spite of the strong personal dislike which from the first he had conceived for that young man.

And then he doubtless had been attracted by the singularity of all that had been done in the affair, and of all that was likely to be done.  He had said to himself that the matter should be made straight, and that he would make it straight.  Therefore, during his walk in the park, he resolved that he must persevere.

At twelve o’clock he was ready to be taken up to the sick man’s room.  When he entered it, under the custody of Miss Scarborough, he found that Augustus was there.  The squire was sitting up, with his feet supported, and was apparently in a good humor.  “Well, Mr. Grey,” he said, “have you settled this matter with Augustus?”

“I have settled nothing.”

“He has not spoken to me about it at all,” said Augustus.

“I told him I wanted a list of the creditors.  He said that it was my duty to supply it.  That was the extent of our conversation.”