probably take it as positive evidence against him.
It would have been more bearable if Philip would but have said 'How foolish,' instead of drily repeating 'Unfortunate!'
After a pause, during which Guy was not sufficiently master of himself to speak, Philip added—'Then this matter of the thousand pounds is to be passed over? You have no explanation to offer?'
'No:' and again he paused. 'When my word is not accepted, I have no more to say. But this is not the point. What I would know is, what are the calumnies that accuse me of having gamed? If you really wish to do me a service, you will give me an opportunity of answering these precious proofs.'
'I will' answered Philip; who could venture on doing so himself, though, for his sister's sake, it was unsafe to trust Mr. Edmonstone, with whom what was not an absolute secret was not a secret at all. 'My uncle knows that a thirty pound cheque of his, in your name, was paid by you to a notorious gamester.'
Guy did not shrink, as he simply answered—'It is true.'
'Yet you have neither played, nor betted, nor done anything that could come under the definition of gambling?'
'No.'
'Then why this payment?'
'I cannot explain that. I know appearances are against me,' replied Guy steadily, and with less irritation than he had hitherto shown. I once thought my simple word would have sufficed, but, since it seems that will not do, I will not again make what you call assertions.'
'In fact, while you profess a desire to be open and sincere, a mystery appears at every turn. What would you have us do?'
'As you think fit,' he answered proudly.
Philip had been used to feel men's wills and characters bend and give way beneath his superior force of mind. They might, like Charles, chafe and rage, but his calmness always gave him the ascendant almost without exertion, and few people had ever come into contact with him without a certain submission of will or opinion. With Guy alone it was not so; he had been sensible of it once or twice before; he had no mastery, and could no more bend that spirit than a bar of steel. This he could not bear, for it obliged him to be continually making efforts to preserve his own sense of superiority.
'Since this is your ultimatum,'