 if my business did
not happen to be something of more importance to you than to any one else.«
    »You don't come from Mr Debarry, then?« said Harold, with some surprise.
    »No, sir. My business is a secret; and, if you please, must remain so.«
    »Is it a pledge you are demanding from me?« said Harold, rather
suspiciously, having no ground for confidence in a man of Christian's position.
    »Yes, sir; I am obliged to ask no less than that you will pledge yourself
not to take Mr Jermyn into confidence concerning what passes between us.«
    »With all my heart,« said Harold, something like a gleam passing over his
face. His circulation had become more rapid. »But what have you had to do with
Jermyn?«
    »He has not mentioned me to you then - has he, sir?«
    »No; certainly not - never.«
    Christian thought, »Aha, Mr Jermyn! you are keeping the secret well are
you?« He said, aloud -
    »Then Mr Jermyn has never mentioned to you, sir, what I believe he is aware
of - that there is danger of a new suit being raised against you on the part of
a Bycliffe, to get the estate?«
    »Aha!« said Harold, starting up, and placing himself with his back against
the mantelpiece. He was electrified by surprise at the quarter from which this
information was coming. Any fresh alarm was counteracted by the flashing thought
that he might be enabled to act independently of Jermyn; and in the rush of
feelings he could utter no more than an interjection. Christian concluded that
Harold had had no previous hint.
    »It is this fact, sir, that I came to tell you of.«
    »From some other motive than kindness to me, I presume,« said Harold, with a
slight approach to a smile.
    »Certainly,« said Christian, as quietly as if he had been stating
yesterday's weather. »I should not have the folly to use any affectation with
you, Mr Transome. I lost considerable property early in life, and am now in the
receipt of a salary simply. In the affair I have just mentioned to you I can
give evidence which will turn the scale against you. I have no wish to do so, if
you will make it worth my while to leave the country.«
    Harold listened as if he had been a legendary hero, selected for peculiar
solicitation by the Evil One.
