"And it is you who venture to bring such scandalous accusations--you, whose conduct in Florence was so unworthy the name of gentleman that if Mr Thornton, with his high and honourable character, was acquainted with it, he would not, I believe, tolerate you in his house! I repudiate your charge. It is false. If my cousins mistook my warnings, it is not my fault. The word you have used never passed my lips--" Jack interrupted him. "It could not. But you implied it." "Implied!" "Yes. To women who were terrified at shadows--and no wonder. What did they know about possibilities or proofs?" "Until you enlightened them," said Oliver with a sneer. "Pray, Mr Ibbetson, do you habitually indulge in romances of this description?" Jack treated this speech with lofty indifference. "I have said my say, and there's an end of it I suppose," he said, turning to the fire, and pushing a log with his foot. He went on speaking with his back turned to Trent. "I intended to let you know my opinion, and have done so; as for the others who are mixed up in the matter, they can form their own as they please." "I have something of my own for you to listen to, though," Trent answered, recovering his coolness. "Your opinions are of too small importance for me to treat this impertinence as it perhaps deserves. Probably it arises from pique, and I may afford to pity it. But if we come to opinions I can give you my own hot and strong. I should like to hear what any honourable man would say of a gentleman who, engaged to one lady, not only flung away her affections, but deliberately insulted her by trying to gain those of another who was already pledged. Eh, Mr Ibbetson? Is this cock-and-bull story your last hope?" There was enough truth in this speech for it to sting, and Jack felt an instinctive conviction that it was spoken for an auditor, and that if he looked round he should see Mr Thornton standing in the doorway. There he actually was, and the anger and perplexity in his red face were so ludicrously strong, that Jack's anger was choked in an inclination to laugh. "What is that you say, Trent? Be good enough to repeat it," he said, coming forward and waving back the chair which Jack pushed forward. "It is a private matter between your nephew and myself," said Trent, as if reluctantly. "Private? Nonsense. You alluded to an affair in which I am as much interested as anyone. I knew there was something of which I had not been informed. Both of you were aware I was within hearing, so now I insist upon hearing properly. Well, sir?" The last interrogation was addressed loudly to Jack, who was leaning against the chimney-piece in an easy attitude which seemed like a personal affront to his uncle. He shrugged his shoulders slightly. "Mr Trent was speaking, sir, not I."