I wish the one you espouse at present, much joy of the acquisition it has made.' The secretary rubbed his hands and bowed, as though he would disarm his adversary by humbling himself before him.

Sir John Chester again exclaimed, with an air of great gaiety, 'Now, really, this is a most remarkable meeting!' and took a pinch of snuff with his usual self-possession.
'Mr Haredale,' said Gashford, stealthily raising his eyes, and letting them drop again when they met the other's steady gaze, is too conscientious, too honourable, too manly, I am sure, to attach unworthy motives to an honest change of opinions, even though it implies a doubt of those he holds himself.

Mr Haredale is too just, too generous, too clear-sighted in his moral vision, to--' 'Yes, sir ?' he rejoined with a sarcastic smile, finding the secretary stopped.

'You were saying'-- Gashford meekly shrugged his shoulders, and looking on the ground again, was silent.
'No, but let us really,' interposed Sir John at this juncture, 'let us really, for a moment, contemplate the very remarkable character of this meeting.

Haredale, my dear friend, pardon me if I think you are not sufficiently impressed with its singularity.