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to speak of gold and silver sticks； or wands of office—is common
enough。 But there was that about the well…dressed man； yes； and
about the other likewise； which struck Mr Haredale with no
pleasant feeling。 He hesitated； stopped； and would have stepped
aside and turned out of his path； but at the moment； the other two
faced about quickly； and stumbled upon him before he could avoid
them。
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The gentleman with the cane lifted his hat and had begun to
tender an apology； which Mr Haredale had begun as hastily to
acknowledge and walk away； when he stopped short and cried；
‘Haredale！ Gad bless me； this is strange indeed！’
‘It is；’ he returned impatiently； ‘yes—a—’
‘My dear friend；’ cried the other； detaining him； ‘why such great
speed？ One minute； Haredale； for the sake of old acquaintance。’
‘I am in haste；’ he said。 ‘Neither of us has sought this meeting。
Let it be a brief one。 Good night！’
‘Fie； fie！’ replied Sir John （for it was he）； ‘how very churlish！ We
were speaking of you。 Your name was on my lips—perhaps you
heard me mention it？ No？ I am sorry for that。 I am really sorry。—
You know our friend here； Haredale？ This is really a most
remarkable meeting！’
The friend； plainly very ill at ease； had made bold to press Sir
John’s arm； and to give him other significant hints that he was
desirous of avoiding this introduction。 As it did not suit Sir John’s
purpose； however； that it should be evaded； he appeared quite
unconscious of these silent remonstrances； and inclined his hand
towards him； as he spoke； to call attention to him more
particularly。
The friend； therefore； had nothing for it； but to muster up the
pleasantest smile he could； and to make a conciliatory bow； as Mr
Haredale turned his eyes upon him。 Seeing that he was
recognised； he put out his hand in an awkward and embarrassed
manner； which was not mended by its contemptuous rejection。
‘Mr Gashford！’ said Haredale； coldly。 ‘It is as I have heard then。
You have left the darkness for the light； sir； and hate those whose
opinions you formerly held； with all the bitterness of a renegade。
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You are an honour； sir； to any cause。 I wish the one you espouse at
present； much joy of the acquisition it has made。’
The secretary rubbed his hands and bowed； as though he would
disarm his adversary by humbling himself before him。 Sir John
Chester again exclaimed； with an air of great gaiety； ‘Now； really；
this is a most remarkable meeting！’ and took a pinch of snuff with
his usual self…possession。
‘Mr Haredale；’ said Gashford； stealthily raising his eyes； and
letting them drop again when they met the other’s steady gaze； is
too conscientious； too honourable； too manly； I am sure； to attach
unworthy motives to an honest change of opinions； even though it
implies a doubt of those he holds himself。 Mr Haredale is too just；
too generous； too clear…sighted in his moral vision； to—’
‘Yes； sir？’ he rejoined with a sarcastic smile； finding the
secretary stopped。 ‘You were saying’—
Gashford meekly shrugged his shoulders； and looking on the
ground again； was silent。
‘No； but let us really；’ interposed Sir John at this juncture； ‘let
us really； for a moment； contemplate the very remarkable
character of this meeting。 Haredale； my dear friend； pardon me if I
think you are not sufficiently impressed with its singularity。 Here
we stand； by no previous appointment or arrangement； three old
schoolfellows； in Westminster Hall； three old boarders in a
remarkably dull and shady seminary at Saint Omer’s； where you；
being Catholics and of necessity educated out of England； were
brought up； and where I； being a promising young Protestant at
that time； was sent to learn the French tongue from a native of
Paris！’
‘Add to the singularity； Sir John；’ said Mr Haredale； ‘that some
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of you Protestants of promise are at this moment leagued in
yonder building； to prevent our having the surpassing and
unheard…of privilege of teaching our children to read and write—
here—in this land； where thousands of us enter your service every
year； and to preserve the freedom of which； we die in bloody
battles abroad； in heaps： and that others of you； to the number of
some thousands as I learn； are led on to look on all men of my
creed as wolves and beasts of prey； by this man Gashford。 Add to it
besides the bare fact that this man lives in society； walks the
streets in broad day—I was about to say； holds up his head； but
that he does not—and it will be strange； and very strange； I grant
you。’
‘Oh！ you are hard upon our friend；’ replied Sir John； with an
engaging smile。 ‘You are really very hard upon our friend！’
‘Let him go on； Sir John；’ said Gashford； fumbling with his
gloves。 ‘Let him go on。 I can make allowances； Sir John。 I am
honoured with your good opinion； and I can dispense with Mr
Haredale’s。 Mr Haredale is a sufferer from the penal laws； and I
can’t expect his favour。’
‘You have so much of my favour； sir；’ retorted Mr Haredale；
with a bitter glance at the third party in their conversation； ‘that I
am glad to see you in such good company。 You are the essence of
your great Association； in yourselves。’
‘Now； there you mistake；’ said Sir John； in his most benignant
way。 ‘There—which is a most remarkable circumstance for a man
of your punctuality and exactness； Haredale—you fall into error。 I
don’t belong to the body； I have an immense respect for its
members； but I don’t belong to it； although I am； it is certainly
true； the conscientious opponent of your being relieved。 I feel it
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my duty to be so； it is a most unfortunate necessity； and cost me a
bitter struggle。—Will you try this box？ If you don’t object to a
trifling infusion of a very chaste scent； you’ll find its flavour
exquisite。’
‘I ask your pardon； Sir John；’ said Mr Haredale； declining the
proffer with a motion of his hand； ‘for having ranked you among
the humble instruments who are obvious and in all men’s sight。 I
should have done more justice to your genius。 Men of your
capacity plot in secrecy and safety； and leave exposed posts to the
duller wits。’
‘Don’t apologise； for the world；’ replied Sir John sweetly； ‘old
friends like you and I； may be allowed some freedoms； or the
deuce is in it。’
Gashford； who had been very restless all this time； but had not
once looked up； now turned to Sir John； and ventured to mutter
something to the effect that he must go； or my lord would perhaps
be waiting。
‘Don’t distress yourself； good sir；’ said Mr Haredale； ‘I’ll take my
leave； and put you at your ease—’ which he was about to do
without ceremony； when he was stayed by a buzz and murmur at
the upper end of the hall； and； looking in that direction； saw Lord
George Gordon coming in； with a crowd of people round him。
There was a lurking look of triumph； though very differently
expressed； in the faces of his two companions； which made it a
natural impul