Not to Lionel; he honestly believed Lionel to be too high-principled: but towards his step-sons.

He had no particular cause to suspect either of them, unless the testimony of Mrs.
Duff's son about the tall gentleman could furnish it; and it may be said that his suspicion strayed to them only from the total absence of any other quarter to fix it upon.

Of the two, he could rather fix upon John, than Frederick.

No scandal, touching Frederick, had ever reached his ears: plenty of it touching John.

In fact, Mr.Verner was rather glad to help in shipping John off to some faraway place, for he considered him no credit to Verner's Pride, or benefit to the neighbourhood.