neglected my duty to my affectionate parent."

"Capital fellow, Augustus Scarborough," said Jones, as soon as their
host had left them.

"I was at Cambridge with him, and he was popular there."

"He'll be more popular now that he's the heir to Tretton. I don't know
any fellow that I can get along better with than Scarborough. I think
you were a little hard upon him about his father, you know."

"In his position he ought to hold his tongue."

"It's the strangest thing that has turned up in the whole course of my
experience. You see, if he didn't talk about it people wouldn't quite
understand what it was that his father has done. It's only matter of
report now, and the creditors, no doubt, do believe that when old
Scarborough goes off the hooks they will be able to walk in and take
possession. He has got to make the world think that he is the heir, and
that will go a long way. You may be sure he doesn't talk as he does
without having a reason for it. He's the last man I know to do anything
without a reason."

The evening dragged along very slowly while Jones continued to tell all
that he knew of his friend's character. But Augustus Scarborough did not
return, and soon after ten o'clock, when Harry Annesley could smoke no
more cigars, and declared that he had no wish to begin upon
brandy-and-water after his wine, he went to his bed.