CHAPTER XII.
DISCUSSION.
I will converse with iron-witted fools And unrespective boys--none are for me That look into me with suspicious eyes.
_Richard III._ "How now, Jekyl!" said Lord Etherington, eagerly; "what news from the enemy ?--Have you seen him ?" "I have," replied Jekyl.
"And in what humour did you find him ?--in none that was very favourable, I dare say, for you have a baffled and perplexed look, that confesses a losing game--I have often warned you how your hang-dog look betrays you at brag--And then, when you would fain brush up your courage, and put a good face on a bad game, your bold looks always remind me of a standard hoisted only half-mast high, and betraying melancholy and dejection, instead of triumph and defiance." "I am only holding the cards for your lordship at present," answered Jekyl; "and I wish to Heaven there may be no one looking over the hand." "How do you mean by that ?" "Why, I was beset, on returning through the wood, by an old bore, a Nabob, as they call him, and Touchwood by name." "I have seen such a quiz about," said Lord Etherington--"What of him ?" "Nothing," answered Jekyl, "except that he seemed to know much more of your affairs than you would wish or are aware of.

He smoked the truth of the rencontre betwixt Tyrrel and you, and what is worse--I must needs confess the truth--he contrived to wring out of me a sort of confirmation of his suspicions." "'Slife! wert thou mad ?" said Lord Etherington, turning pale; "His is the very tongue to send the story through the whole country--Hal, you have undone me." "I hope not," said Jekyl; "I trust in Heaven I have not!--His knowledge is quite general--only that there was some scuffle between you--Do not look so dismayed about it, or I will e'en go back and cut his throat, to secure his secrecy." "Cursed indiscretion!" answered the Earl--"how could you let him fix on you at all ?" "I cannot tell," said Jekyl--"he has powers of boring beyond ten of the dullest of all possible doctors--stuck like a limpet to a rock--a perfect double of the Old Man of the Sea, who I take to have been the greatest bore on record." "Could you not have turned him on his back like a turtle, and left him there ?" said Lord Etherington.
"And had an ounce of lead in my body for my pains?
No--no--we have already had footpad work enough--I promise you the old buck was armed, as if he meant to bing folks on the low toby."[II-8] "Well--well--But Martigny, or Tyrrel, as you call him--what says he ?" "Why, Tyrrel, or Martigny, as your lordship calls him," answered Jekyl, "will by no means listen to your lordship's proposition.

He will not consent that Miss Mowbray's happiness shall be placed in your lordship's keeping; nay, it did not meet his approbation a bit the more, when I hinted at the acknowledgment of the marriage, or the repetition of the ceremony, attended by an immediate separation, which I thought I might venture to propose." "And on what grounds does he refuse so reasonable an accommodation ?" said Lord Etherington--"Does he still seek to marry the girl himself ?" "I believe he thinks the circumstances of the case render that impossible," replied his confidant.
"What?
then he would play the dog in the manger--neither eat nor let eat ?--He shall find himself mistaken.

She has used me like a dog, Jekyl, since I saw you; and, by Jove! I will have her, that I may break her pride, and cut him to the liver with the agony of seeing it." "Nay, but hold--hold!" said Jekyl; "perhaps I have something to say on his part, that may be a better compromise than all you could have by teasing him.

He is willing to purchase what he calls Miss Mowbray's tranquillity, at the expense of his resignation of his claims to your father's honours and estate; and he surprised me very much, my lord, by showing me this list of documents, which, I am afraid, makes his success more than probable, if there really are such proofs in existence." Lord Etherington took the paper, and seemed to read with much attention, while Jekyl proceeded,--"He has written to procure these evidences from the person with whom they are deposited." "We shall see what like they are when they arrive," said Lord Etherington.--"They come by post, I suppose ?" "Yes; and may be immediately expected," answered Jekyl.
"Well--he is my brother on one side of the house, at least," said Lord Etherington; "and I should not much like to have him lagged for forgery, which I suppose will be the end of his bolstering up an unsubstantial plea by fabricated documents--I should like to see these same papers he talks of." "But, my lord," replied Jekyl, "Tyrrel's allegation is, that you _have_ seen them; and that copies, at least, were made out for you, and are in your possession--such is his averment." "He lies," answered Lord Etherington, "so far as he pretends I know of such papers.