ARTHUR
3

There was a strange mixture on Wortley's face as they faced each other. His satisfaction was mixed with shock, and his shock with anger. Arthur, in turn, showed considerable embarrassment. Wortley's thoughts were too serious on some topics to allow him to speak. He immediately made an excuse to take time off, and got up, talking to the young man himself with a request that he walk home with him. This invitation, delivered in a tone that casts doubt on whether the compliment or threat was intended, adds to Arthur's confusion. He complied without speaking, and they left together; my wife and I were left to comment on the incident.

It could not fail to stir up anxiety. They are clearly no strangers to each other. The anger emanating from Wortley's eyes, and Arthur's trembling consciousness, were unwanted signs. The first is my dear friend, and is honoured for his sharpness and integrity. The latter seemed to have drawn upon himself the anger and humiliation of this man. We had anticipated the shock that would be generated by the discovery of his unworthiness.

Within half an hour, Arthur was back. His shame has given place to grief. He had always been serious, but his face was now covered by the deepest darkness. The anxiety I felt would not allow me to hesitate for long.

"Arthur," I said, "there's something going on with you. Will you reveal it to us? Perhaps you have brought yourself into a dilemma from which we can help you to escape. Is there something unpleasant going on between you and Wortley?"

The young man did not answer. He seemed to have lost the suitable answer. Finally he said that something unpleasant had indeed happened between him and Wortley. She is having an accident due to being in contact with a man by whom Wortley considers herself to be injured. He bore no part in inflicting these injuries, but nevertheless had been threatened with ill-treatment if he had not made the revelations that were indeed within his power to make, but which he was bound, by every sanction, by every, to hold. This disclosure would not be beneficial to Wortley. It prefers to operate adversely than otherwise; yet it seeks to be taken from it with the heaviest threat. There he stopped.

We were naturally curious about the scope of this threat; but Arthur asked us not to discuss this topic further. He foresaw the difficulties he would face in silence. One of the most frightening consequences is the loss of our good opinions. He had no idea what he should fear from Wortley's hostility. Mr. Wortley's violence is not without reason. It was his accident to be exposed to suspicions that could only be avoided by breaking his faith. But, indeed, he did not know if any degree of decisiveness would refute the accusations made against him; whether, by trampling on his sacred promises, he should not multiply the danger instead of reducing the number. The hard part had been given to him; it was too difficult for a young, careless, and inexperienced man like him.

Sincerity, perhaps, is the best path. Perhaps, after having the opportunity to confer, he should conclude to adopt her; in the meantime he begged for permission to go to her room. He cannot exclude from his mind ideas that have not been able, without propriety, at least at this time, to be the theme of conversation.

"Arthur," I said, "You are the master of your actions and time in this house. Go whenever you want; but you will certainly think we want to dispel this mystery. Anything that tends to obscure or slander your character will certainly excite our attention. Wortley was neither petty nor in a hurry to curse. So great was my belief in his integrity that I would not pledge my pride to a person who had lost Wortley permanently. I don't know your motives for hiding, or what you're hiding; but take the words of the person who has the experience you complain about, sincerity is always the safest."

As soon as he left, my curiosity prompted me to immediately visit Wortley. I found it at home. He wanted an interview, and answered my questions eagerly.

"You know," he said, "my bad relationship with Thomas. You remember his sudden departure last July, where I was on the verge of destruction. No, I, even now, am far from certain that I will survive the event. I'm talking to you about the young man who lives with you and in what way the young man was found to have crossed the river with him on the night of his departure. This is the young man.

"This will explain my emotions when meeting her at your house; I take her out with me. The confusion was enough to demonstrate his knowledge of the transaction between Thomas and me. I asked him about the fate of the man. To have the truth, I expected some well-digested lies; but he just said that he had promised secrecy about it, he said, and therefore should be exempt from giving me any information. I asked him if he knew that his master, or his accomplice, or whatever his relation.to him, was running away from my debt? He replies that he knows it well; but still begs for inviolable secrecy about his hideout. This action irritated me, and I treated him with the harshness he deserved. Half ashamed to admit the excesses of my desire; I even went so far as to attack him. He endured my insults with great patience. No doubt the young villain was well instructed in his lessons. He knows that he can safely defy my power from my threat down to plea. I even tried to reveal the truth from him with intelligence. I promised him a portion of the debt if he allowed me to recover the entirety. I offered him a pretty big reward if he was only willing to give me a clue with which I could trace him to his retreat; but all was insufficient. He only showed confusion and shook his head as a sign of disobedience."

My friend told me about this interview. His suspicions undoubtedly make sense; but I tend to place more favorable constructions on Arthur's behavior. I recall the miserable, penniless conditions in which I found it, and the uniform satisfaction and honesty of his attitude for the period in which we have witnessed it. These ideas had a huge influence on my judgment, and made me disagree to follow my friend's advice, which would have driven him out of my door that very night.