'Chester,' said Mr Haredale, after a short silence, during which he had
eyed his smiling face from time to time intently, 'you have the head and
heart of an evil spirit in all matters of deception.'
'Your health!' said the other, with a nod. 'But I have interrupted
you--'
'If now,' pursued Mr Haredale, 'we should find it difficult to separate
these young people, and break off their intercourse--if, for instance,
you find it difficult on your side, what course do you intend to take?'
'Nothing plainer, my good fellow, nothing easier,' returned the other,
shrugging his shoulders and stretching himself more comfortably before
the fire. 'I shall then exert those powers on which you flatter me so
highly--though, upon my word, I don't deserve your compliments to their
full extent--and resort to a few little trivial subterfuges for rousing
jealousy and resentment. You see?'
'In short, justifying the means by the end, we are, as a last resource
for tearing them asunder, to resort to treachery and--and lying,' said
Mr Haredale.
'Oh dear no. Fie, fie!' returned the other, relishing a pinch of snuff
extremely. 'Not lying. Only a little management, a little diplomacy, a
little--intriguing, that's the word.
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