Really, as Miss Harden’s solicitor pointed out to her in the presence of Miss Palliser, things looked very black against the young man.  It was clear, from the letter Mr. Schofield had received from Mr. Jewdwine that morning, that the library was worth at least three times the amount these Rickmans had paid for it.  Barring the fact that sale by private contract was irregular and unsatisfactory, he completely exonerated Mr. Pilkington from all blame in the matter.  His valuation had evidently been made in all good faith, if in some ignorance.  But the young man, who by Pilkington’s account had been acting all along as his father’s agent, must have been perfectly aware of the nature of the bargain he had made.  There was every reason to suppose that he had known all about the bill of sale before he came down to Harmouth; and there could be no doubt he had made use of his very exceptional opportunities to inform himself precisely of the value of the books he was cataloguing.  He must have known that they had been undervalued by Mr. Pilkington, and seen his chance of buying them for a mere song.

So what does he do?  He carefully conceals his knowledge from the persons most concerned; obviously, that he and his father may keep the market to themselves.  Then at the last moment he comes and pretends to give Miss Harden a chance of forestalling the purchase, knowing well that before she can take a single step the purchase will be concluded.  Then he hurries up to town; and the next thing you hear is that he’s very sorry, but arrangements have unfortunately already been made with Mr. Pilkington.  No doubt, as agent of the sale, that young man would pocket a very substantial commission.  Clearly in the face of the evidence, it was impossible to acquit him of dishonesty; but no action could be brought against him, because the matter lay entirely between him and Mr. Pilkington.

Lucia and Kitty had listened attentively to the masterly analysis of Mr. Rickman’s motives; and at the end Kitty admitted that appearances were certainly against him; while Lucia protested that he was a poet and therefore constitutionally incapable of the peculiar sort of cleverness imputed to him.  The man of law submitted that because he was a poet it did not follow that he was not an uncommonly knowing young man too.  Whereupon Kitty pointed out one or two flaws in the legal argument.  In the first place, urged Kitty, the one thing that this knowing young man did not know was the amount of security the library represented.

Mr. Schofield smiled in genial forbearance with a lady’s ignorance.  He must have known, for such information is always published for the benefit of all whom it may concern.