 return to it.«
    If she had asserted any influence over him beyond her plain faith in the
truth and right of what she said; if she had concealed the least doubt or
irresolution, or had harboured for the best purpose any reserve or pretence; if
she had shown, or felt, the lightest trace of any sensitiveness to his ridicule
or his astonishment, or any remonstrance he might offer; he would have carried
it against her at this point. But he could as easily have changed a clear sky by
looking at it in surprise, as affect her.
    »But do you know,« he asked, quite at a loss, »the extent of what you ask?
You probably are not aware that I am here on a public kind of business,
preposterous enough in itself, but which I have gone in for, and sworn by, and
am supposed to be devoted to in quite a desperate manner? You probably are not
aware of that, but I assure you it's the fact.«
    It had no effect on Sissy, fact or no fact.
    »Besides which,« said Mr. Harthouse, taking a turn or two across the room,
dubiously, »it's so alarmingly absurd. It would make a man so ridiculous, after
going in for these fellows, to back out in such an incomprehensible way.«
    »I am quite sure,« repeated Sissy, »that it is the only reparation in your
power, sir. I am quite sure, or I would not have come here.«
    He glanced at her face, and walked about again. »Upon my soul, I don't know
what to say. So immensely absurd!«
    It fell to his lot, now, to stipulate for secrecy.
    »If I were to do such a very ridiculous thing,« he said, stopping again
presently, and leaning against the chimney-piece, »it could only be in the most
inviolable confidence.«
    »I will trust to you, sir,« returned Sissy, »and you will trust to me.«
    His leaning against the chimney-piece reminded him of the night with the
whelp. It was the self-same chimney-piece, and somehow he felt as if he were the
whelp to-night. He could make no way at all.
    »I suppose a man never was placed in a more ridiculous position,« he said,
after looking down, and looking up, and laughing, and frowning, and walking off,
and walking back again. »But I see no way
