37/45 I knew in my own heart that it took its rise in the inveterate dislike that I have always felt for Mr. But I went back to Sharon, for all that, and put the case into his hands. His investigations informed me that Mr.Sweetsir owed 'debts of honor' (as gentlemen call them), incurred through lost bets, to a large number of persons, and among them a bet of five hundred pounds lost to Mr.Hardyman. Further inquiries showed that Mr.Hardyman had taken the lead in declaring that he would post Mr.Sweetsir as a defaulter, and have him turned out of his clubs, and turned out of the betting-ring. Ruin stared him in the face if he failed to pay his debt to Mr.Hardyman on the last day left to him--the day after the note was lost. |