To me such
a character is specially odious; for I would fain, if it be
possible, be young even to my grave. Smith, if he were clever,
might escape from the window of the room, which opened out upon a
terrace, and still get down to the steamer. I would keep the old
man in play for some time; and, even though I lost my passage, would
be true to my friend. There lay our joint luggage at my feet in the
yard. If Smith would venture away without his portion of it, all
might yet be right.
"My name, sir, is Sir William Weston," he began. I had heard of the
name before, and knew him to be a man of wealth, and family, and
note. I took off my hat, and said that I had much honour in meeting
Sir William Weston.
"And I presume you know the object with which I am now here," he
continued.
"Not exactly," said I. "Nor do I understand how I possibly should
know it, seeing that, up to this moment, I did not even know your
name, and have heard nothing concerning either your movements or
your affairs."
"Sir," said he, "I have hitherto believed that I might at any rate
expect from you the truth."
"Sir," said I, "I am bold to think that you will not dare to tell
me, either now, or at any other time, that you have received, or
expect to receive, from me anything that is not true.
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