De Guy
had communicated this information to Maxwell, and thus he was enabled to
establish conclusively the connection between them.
Vernon's plan for the future was adopted; and manifesting no surprise,
he denied the fact of his reformation, however strong the circumstances
might be against him. He had often been implicated in fouler deceptions
than this in a worse cause, and, in spite of his great resolves, he did
not hesitate in this instance.
"Quite a sell, wasn't it, this reformation? The old gentleman has a fine
place up there,--money in the bank,--hey, boy? I saw through the whole
of it, as soon as I heard the absurd story," said Maxwell, who, to do
him justice, did not believe the tale. It was too much for his
credulity, that a thing like Vernon could be animated by a good
motive,--could, by any possibility, abandon the error of his ways.
"Just so, Max. The fact is, I found the old fellow had plenty of money,
and no one but me to leave it to; so I thought it would be a devilish
pity to have it all go to found a hospital, an orthodox college, or some
such absurdity, and I could not resist the temptation to become a little
saintly, just for a few days.
Pages:
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439