Sewell staggered back into the room and sat down. A clammy cold perspiration covered his face and forehead, for the rancor that filled his heart sickened him like a malady. “You shall pay for this, by heaven! you shall,” muttered he, as he wiped the great drops from his brow. “The old fool himself has taught me where he was vulnerable, and as I live he shall feel it.” “His Lordship wants to see you, sir; he is in the garden,” said a servant; and Sewell rose and followed him. He stopped twice as he went to compose his features and regain his calm. On the last time he even rehearsed the few words and the smile by which he meant to accost the Judge. The little artifice was, however, forestalled, as Sir William met him abruptly with the words, “What a time you have been, sir,--forty-eight minutes by my watch!” “I assure you, my Lord, I'd have made it shorter if I could,” said Sewell, with a smile of some significance. “I am unable to see why you could not have done so. The charge I gave you was to report to me, not to negotiate on your own part.” “Nor did I, my Lord. Sir Brook Fossbrooke distinctly declared that he would only communicate with yourself personally,--that what he desired to say referred to yourself, and should be answered by yourself.” “On hearing which, sir, you withdrew?” “So far as your Lordship was concerned, no more was said between us. What passed after this I may be permitted to call private.” “What, sir! You see a person in _my_ house, at _my_ instance, and with _my_ instructions,--who comes to see and confer with _me_; and you have the hardihood to tell me that you took that opportunity to discuss questions which you call private!” “I trust, my Lord, you will not press me in this matter; my position is a most painful one.” “It is worse than painful, sir; it is humiliating. But,” added he, after a short pause, “I have reason to be grateful to you. You have rescued me from, perhaps, a very grave indiscretion. Your position--your wife's health--your children's welfare had all interested me. I might have--No matter what, sir. I have recovered the balance of my mind. I am myself again.” “My Lord, I will be open with you.” “I will accept of no forced confidences, sir,” said the Judge, waving his hand haughtily. “They are not forced, my Lord, farther than my dislike to give you pain renders them so. The man to whom you sent me this morning is no stranger to me--would that he had been!--would that I had never known nor heard of him! Very few words will explain why, my Lord. I only entreat that, before I say them, they may be in strictest confidence between us.” “If they require secrecy, sir, they shall have it.”