He even began to doubt now whether it was true that he had applied in vain for the reward promised them for their secret service expedition.

It might all be a part of a preconcerted plan, in order to cajole Tom into thinking he had some sort of right to act as they had done with regard to this money.
He began to feel doubts of everything now, and above all of himself.

Had he been made a tool of and a dupe?
And was he walking blindfold into a net ready for his feet?
He slept but restlessly upon his bed that night, revolving many things in his mind, and almost resolving to see Lord Claud no more, but to adopt a new method of life in this wonderful city, albeit he scarcely knew what that life should be.
Tom's hot blood had been fired by the adventures of the past months; his vanity had been flattered by the success which he had met with; his self confidence (always rather too strong) had grown and increased with great rapidity.

He felt that without adventure and peril of some sort life would be tame and flat.

To live as Master Cale lived, a quiet uneventful life of honest toil, seemed repugnant to him.