"Very good," said Bayle, wondering, and very anxious at heart, for he knew the baronet's proclivities. They turned off on to one of the footpaths, chatting upon indifferent matters, till all at once Sir Gordon exclaimed: "'Pon my honour, I don't think I like you, Bayle." "I'm very sorry, Sir Gordon, because I really do like you. I've always found you a true gentleman at heart, and--" "Stuff, sir! Silence, sir! Egad, sir, will you hold your tongue? Talking such nonsense to a confirmed valetudinarian with a soured life, and--pish! I don't want to talk about myself. I was going to say that I did not like you." "You did say so," replied the curate, smiling. "Ah! well, it's the truth. Why do you stop here?" "To annoy you, perhaps," said Bayle laughing. "Well, no: I like my people, and I'm vain enough to think I am able to do a little good." "You do, Bayle, you do," said Sir Gordon, taking his arm and leaning upon him in a confidential way. "You're a good fellow, Bayle; and Castor here would miss you horribly, if you left." "Oh, nonsense!" "It is not nonsense, sir. Why, you do more good among the people in one year than I have done in all my life." "Well, I think I have amerced you pretty well lately for my poor, Sir Gordon." "Yes, man, but it was your doing. I shouldn't have given a shilling. But look here, I was going to say, why is it that I come to you, and make such a confidant of you?" "Do you wish to confide something to me now?" "Yes, of course; one can't go to one's solicitor, and I've no friends. Plenty of club acquaintances: but no friends. There, don't shake your head like that, man. Well, only a few. By-the-way, charming little girl that." "What, little Julie?" cried Bayle, with his cheeks flushing with pleasure. "Yes; and your prime favourite, I see. I don't like her, though. Too much of her father." "She has his eyes and hair," said Bayle thoughtfully; "but there is the sweet grave look in her face that her mother used to wear when I first came to Castor." "Hush! Silence! Hold your tongue!" cried Sir Gordon impatiently. "Look here--her father--I want to talk about him." "About Mr Hallam?" "Yes. What do you think of him now?" Bayle laid his hand upon Sir Gordon's. "We are old friends, Sir Gordon; I know your little secret; you know mine. Don't ask me that question." "As a very old trusty friend I do ask you. Bayle, it is a duty. Look here, man; I hold an important trust in connection with that bank. I'm afraid I have not done my duty. It is irksome to me, a wealthy man, and I am so much away yachting. Let me see; you never have had dealings with us." "No, Sir Gordon, never." "Well, as I was saying, I am so much away. You are always feeling the pulses of the people. Now, as you are a great deal at Hallam's, tell me as a friend in a peculiar position, what do you think of Hallam?" "Do you mean as a friend?" "I mean as a business man, as our manager. What do the people say?"