You'll stop and dine, I hope; or
perhaps you can put up here altogether for a week or so. My housekeeper
shall find you a good room; and I can promise you pleasant company. Say
yes, now, like a good fellow, and I'll send a man to Lidford for your
traps."
"Thanks--no. You are very kind; but I am staying with my sister for a few
days, and must return to town before the end of the week. The fact of the
matter is, Sir David, I have come here to-day to ask you for some
explanation of your conduct at our last interview. I don't want to say
anything rude or disagreeable; for I am quite willing to believe that you
felt kindly towards me, even at the time when you deceived me. I suppose
there are some positions in which a man can hardly expect fair play, and
that mine was such a position. But you certainly did deceive me, Sir
David, and grossly."
"That last is rather an unpleasant word, Mr. Fenton. In what respect did
I deceive you?"
"I came here on purpose to ask you if Mr. Holbrook, the man who robbed me
of my promised wife, were a friend of yours, and you denied all knowledge
of him."
"Granted. And what then, my dear sir?"
"When I came to ask you that question, I had no special reason for
supposing this Mr. Holbrook was known to you. It only struck me that,
being a stranger in the village, as the result of my inquiries had proved
to me, he might be one of your many visitors.
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