A Discouraging Confession

           AssoonasthequartermasterwasbroughtintothepresenceofLordGlenarvan,hiskeeperswithdrew.

           "Youwantedtospeaktome,Ayrton?"saidGlenarvan.

           "Yes,myLord,"repliedthequartermaster.

           "Didyouwishforaprivateinterview?"

           "Yes,butIthinkifMajorMcNabbsandMr.Paganelwerepresentitwouldbebetter."

           "Forwhom?"

           "Formyself."

           Ayrtonspokequitecalmlyandfirmly.Glenarvanlookedathimforaninstant,andthensenttosummonMcNabbsandPaganel,whocameatonce.

           "Weareallreadytolistentoyou,"saidGlenarvan,whenhistwofriendshadtakentheirplaceatthesaloontable.

           Ayrtoncollectedhimself,foraninstant,andthensaid:

           "MyLord,itisusualforwitnessestobepresentateverycontractortransactionbetweentwoparties.ThatiswhyIdesirethepresenceofMessrs.PaganelandMcNabbs,foritis,properlyspeaking,abargainwhichIproposetomake."

           Glenarvan,accustomedtoAyrton’sways,exhibitednosurprise,thoughanybargainingbetweenthismanandhimselfseemedstrange.

           "Whatisthebargain?"hesaid.

           "This,"repliedAyrton."Youwishtoobtainfrommecertainfactswhichmaybeusefultoyou.Iwishtoobtainfromyoucertainadvantageswhichwouldbevaluabletome.Itisgivingforgiving,myLord.Doyouagreetothisornot?"

           "Whatarethefacts?"askedPaganeleagerly.

           "No,"saidGlenarvan."Whataretheadvantages?"

           AyrtonbowedintokenthatheunderstoodGlenarvan’sdistinction.

           "These,"hesaid,"aretheadvantagesIask.