certainly pointed out the possibility to which you allude, but
_that_ was merely contingent upon what he could not refuse to
do."--"Sheringham," said I, "your uncle has already secured for you
the promotion, and you will be gazetted for the lieutenant-colonelcy
of your regiment on Tuesday. I am not to be told that you called at
the Horse-guards, in your way to your uncle's yesterday, to ascertain
the correctness of the report of the vacancy which you had received
from your friend Macgregor; or that _you_, elated by the prospect
before you, were the person, in fact, to suggest the arrangement
which has been made, and promise your uncle 'to smooth me over' for
the present."--"Sir," said Sheringham, "where you picked up this
intelligence I know not; but I must say, that such mistrust, after
years of undivided intimacy, is not becoming, or consistent with the
character which I hitherto supposed you to possess. When by sinister
means the man we look upon as a friend descends to be a spy upon our
actions, confidence is at an end, and the sooner our intercourse
ceases, the better. Without some such conduct, how could you become
possessed of the details upon which you have grounded your opinion
of my conduct?"--"I--," and here again was a temptation to confess
and fall; but I had not the courage to do it. "Suffice it, Major
Sheringham, to say, I knew it; and, moreover, I know, that when you
leave me, your present irritation will prompt you to go to your uncle
and check the disposition he feels at this moment to serve me."--"This
is too much, sir," said Sheringham; "this must be our last interview,
unless indeed your unguarded conduct towards me, and your intemperate
language concerning me, may render one more meeting necessary; and so,
sir, here ends our acquaintance."--Saying which, Sheringham, whose
friendship even to my enlightened eye was nearly as sincere as any
other man's, quitted my room, fully convinced of my meanness and
unworthiness; my heart sank within me when I heard the door close