'No,' said Leonard. 'After that scene much was implied between us,
but nothing mentioned. I cannot even tell whether he trusted me, or
only made me serve as a protector. I believe that row was about this
money, which he had got together in secret, and that Sam suspected,
and wanted to extort; but it was exactly as I said at the inquest, he
gave no reason for sending me up to town with it. He knew that I
knew why, and so said no more than that it was to be private. It was
pitiful to see that man, so fierce and bold as they say he once was,
trembling as if doing something by stealth, and the great hard knotty
hands so crumpled and shaky, that he had to leave all to me. And
that they should fancy I could go and hurt him!' said Leonard,
stretching his broad chest and shoulders in conscious strength.

'Yes, considering who it was, I do not wonder that you feel the
passion-theory as insulting as the accusation.'

'I ought not,' said Leonard, reddening. 'Every one knows what my
temper can do. I do not think that a poor old feeble man like that
could have provoked me to be so cowardly, but I see it is no wonder
they think so. Only they might suppose I would not have been a
robber, and go on lying now, when they take good care to tell me that
it is ruinous!'

'It is an intolerable shame that they can look you in the face and
imagine it for a moment,' said the Doctor, with all his native
warmth.

'After all,' said Leonard, recalled by his sympathy, 'it is my own
fault from beginning to end that I am in this case. I see now that
it was only God's mercy that prevented my brother's blood being on