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Bashwood's manner； the blank despair in Mr。 Bashwood's face；
which his answer had produced。 〃Are you ill？ Is there something
behind the curtain that you're afraid to bring out？ I don't
understand it。 Have you come herehere in my private room； in
business hourswith nothing to tell me but that young Armadale
has been fool enough to ruin his prospects for life？ Why； I
foresaw it all weeks since； and what is more； I as good as told
him so at the last conversation I had with him in the great
house。〃
At those last words； Mr。 Bashwood suddenly rallied。 The lawyer's
passing reference to the great house had led him back in a moment
to the purpose that he had in view。
〃That's it； sir！〃 he said； eagerly； 〃that's what I wanted to
speak to you about； that's what I've been preparing in my mind。
Mr。 Pedgift； sir； the last time you were at the great house； when
you came away in your gig； youyou overtook me on the drive。〃
〃I dare say I did；〃 remarked Pedgift； resignedly。 〃My mare
happens to be a trifle quicker on her legs than you are on yours；
Bashwood。 Go on； go on。 We shall come in time； I suppose； to what
you are driving at。〃
〃You stopped； and spoke to me； sir；〃 proceeded Mr。 Bashwood；
advancing more and more eagerly to his end。 〃You said you
suspected me of feeling some curiosity about Miss Gwilt； and you
told me （I remember the exact words； sir）you told me to gratify
my curiosity by all means； for you didn't object to it。〃
Pedgift Senior began for the first time to look interested in
hearing more。
〃I remember something of the sort；〃 he replied； 〃and I also
remember thinking it rather remarkable that you should
_happen_we won't put it in any more offensive wayto be
exactly under Mr。 Armadale's open window while I was talking to
him。 It might have been accident； of course； but it looked rather
more like curiosity。 I could only judge by appearances；〃
concluded Pedgift； pointing his sarcasm with a pinch of snuff；
〃and appearances； Bashwood； were decidedly against you。〃
〃I don't deny it； sir。 I only mentioned the circumstance because
I wished to acknowledge that I _was_ curious； and _am_ curious
about Miss Gwilt。〃
〃Why？〃 asked Pedgift Senior； seeing something under the surface
in Mr。 Bashwood's face and manner； but utterly in the dark thus
far as to what that something might be。
There was silence for a moment。 The moment passed； Mr。 Bashwood
took the refuge usually taken by nervous； unready men； placed in
his circumstances； when they are at a loss for an answer。 He
simply reiterated the assertion that he had just made。 〃I feel
some curiosity sir；〃 he said； with a strange mixture of
doggedness and timidity； 〃about Miss Gwilt。〃
There was another moment of silence。 In spite of his practiced
acuteness and knowledge of the world； the lawyer was more puzzled
than ever。 The case of Mr。 Bashwood presented the one human
riddle of all others which he was least qualified to solve。
Though year after year witnesses in thousands and thousands of
cases； the remorseless disinheriting of nearest and dearest
relations； the unnatural breaking…up of sacred family ties； the
deplorable severance of old and firm friendships； due entirely to
the intense self…absorption which the sexual passion can produce
when it enters the heart of an old man； the association of love
with infirmity and gray hairs arouses； nevertheless； all the
world over； no other idea than the idea of extravagant
improbability or extravagant absurdity in the general mind。 If
the interview now taking place in Mr。 Pedgift's consulting…room
had taken place at his dinner…table instead； when wine had opened
his mind to humorous influences； it is possible that he might； by
this time； have suspected the truth。 But； in his business hours；
Pedgift Senior was in the habit of investigating men's motives
seriously from the business point of view； and he was on that
very account simply incapable of conceiving any improbability so
startling； any absurdity so enormous； as the absurdity and
improbability of Mr。 Bashwood's being in love。
Some men in the lawyer's position would have tried to force their
way to enlightenment by obstinately repeating the unanswered
question。 Pedgift Senior wisely postponed the question until he
had moved the conversation on another step。 〃Well；〃 he resumed；
〃let us say you feel a curiosity about Miss Gwilt。 What next？〃
The palms of Mr。 Bashwood's hands began to moisten under the
influence of his agitation； as they had moistened in the past
days when he had told the story of his domestic sorrows to
Midwinter at the great house。 Once more he rolled his
handkerchief into a ball； and dabbed it softly to and fro from
one hand to the other。
〃May I ask if I am right； sir；〃 he began； 〃in believing that you
have a very unfavorable opinion of Miss Gwilt？ You are quite
convinced； I think〃
〃My good fellow；〃 interrupted Pedgift Senior； 〃why need you be in
any doubt about it？ You were under Mr。 Armadale's open window all
the while I was talking to him； and your ears； I presume； were
not absolutely shut。〃
Mr。 Bashwood showed no sense of the interruption。 The little
sting of the lawyer's sarcasm was lost in the nobler pain that
wrung him from the wound inflicted by Miss Gwilt。
〃You are quite convinced； I think； sir；〃 he resumed； 〃that there
are circumstances in this lady's past life which would be highly
discreditable to her if they were discovered at the present
time？〃
〃The window was open at the great house； Bashwood； and your ears；
I presume； were not absolutely shut。〃
Still impenetrable to the sting； Mr。 Bashwood persisted more
obstinately than ever。
〃Unless I am greatly mistaken；〃 he said； 〃your long experience in
such things has even suggested to you； sir； that Miss Gwilt might
turn out to be known to the police？〃
Pedgift Senior's patience gave way。 〃You have been over ten
minutes in this room；〃 he broke out。 〃Can you； or can you not；
tell me in plain English what you want？〃
In plain Englishwith the passion that had transformed him； the
passion which （in Miss Gwilt's own words） had made a man of him；
burning in his haggard cheeksMr。 Bashwood met the challenge；
and faced the lawyer （as； the worried sheep faces the dog） on his
own ground。
〃I wish to say； sir；〃 he answered； 〃that your opinion in this
matter is my opinion too。 I believe there is something wrong in
Miss Gwilt's past life which she keeps concealed from everybody；
and I want to be the man who knows it。〃
Pedgift Senior saw his chance； and instantly reverted to the
question that he had postponed。 〃Why？〃 he asked for the second
time。
For the second time Mr。 Bashwood hesitated。
Could he acknowledge that he had been mad enough to love her； and
mean enough to be a spy for her？ Could he say； She has deceived
me from the first； and she has deserted me； now her object is
served。 After robbing me of my happiness； robbing me of my honor；
robbing me of my last hope left in life； she has gone from me
forever； and left me nothing but my old man's longing； slow and
sly； and strong and changeless； for revenge。 Revenge that I may
have； if I can poison her success by dragging her frailties into
the public view。 Revenge that I will buy （for what is gold or
what is life to me？） with the last farthing of my hoarded money
and the last drop of my stagnant blood。 Could he say that to the
man who sat waiting for his answer？ No； he could only crush it
down and be silent。
The lawyer's expression began to harden once more。
〃One of us must speak out；〃 he said； 〃and as you evidently won't；
I will。 I can only account for this extraordinary anxiety of
yours to make yourself acquainted with Miss Gwilt's secrets； in
one of two ways。 Your motive is either an excessively mean one
（no offense； Bashwood； I am only putting the case）； or an
excessively generous one。 After my experience of your honest
character and your creditable conduct； it is only your due that I
should absolve you at once of the mean motive。 I believe you are
as incapable as I amI can say no moreof turning to mercenary
account any discoveries you might make to Miss Gwilt's prejudice
in Miss Gwilt's past life。 Shall I go on any further？ or would
you prefer； on second thoughts； opening your mind frankly to me
of your own accord？〃
〃I should prefer not interrupting you； sir；〃 said Mr。 Bashwood。
〃As you please； 〃 pursued Pedgift Senior。 〃Having absolved you of
the mean motive； I come to the generous motive next。 It is
possible that you are an unusually grateful man； and it is
certain that Mr。 Armadale has been remarkably kind to you。 After
employing you under Mr。 Midwinter； in the steward's office； he
has had confidence enough in your honesty and your capacity； now
his friend has left him； to put his business entirely and
unreservedly in your hands。 It's not in my experience of human
naturebut it may be possible； nevertheless…that you are so
gratefully sensible of that confidence； and so gratefully
interested in your employer's welfare； that you can't see him； in
his friendless position； going straight to his own disgrace and
ruin； without making an effort to save him。 To put it in two
words。 Is it your idea