You're to suppose, Sir, 'tis possible Mr. Dangerfield has a
guess at him. Well, he's a clever man, and knows how to put this and
that together; and has been kind to Dr. Sturk and his family. He's a
good man, you know; and he's a long-headed gentleman, they say; and if
he takes a thing in hand, he'll be as like as another to bring it about.
But sink or swim my mind's made up. Charles Archer, wherever he is, will
not like my going--he'll sniff danger in the wind, Sir. I could not
stay--he'd have had me--you see, body and soul. 'Twas time for me to
go--and go or stay, I see nothing but bad before me. 'Twas an evil day I
ever saw his face; and 'twould be better for me to have a cast for my
life at any rate, and that I'm nigh-hand resolved on; only you see my
heart misgives me--and that's how it is. I can't quite make up my mind.'
For a little while Mervyn stood in an agony of irresolution. I'm sure I
cannot understand all he felt, having never been, thank Heaven! in a
like situation. I only know how much depended on it, and I don't wonder
that for some seconds he thought of arresting that lank, pale, sinister
figure by the fire, and denouncing him as, by his own confession, an
accessory to the murder of Beauclerc.
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