But consider--Here am I at William's right hand, already rich and
powerful, and possessing limitless prospects of increased power and
riches. Yet am I ready to sacrifice everything, to brave everything,
to bring utter ruin on my fortune, if only I can rid myself of this
nightmare of shame. Is this the attitude of insincerity?"
"Upon my word, my lord, I'd give something to know why the devil you
tell all this to us."
"I hardly know myself," answered the Earl, sighing deeply, but still
without a grain of expression on his handsome face. "A man haunted
as I am can hardly account for all his utterances. I have come to do
you a service, and, having done it, might have withdrawn without a
word. But the sight of you recalled the honest words you spoke to
the usurper this afternoon. Sirs, I envied you then; and just now an
insane longing took hold of me to set myself right with two such
inflexible friends of King James."
"Would it not be more to the point if you first obtained pardon from
King James himself?"
"I have done so."
"Well, my lord, I cannot yet see what your affairs have to do with
us. But if it will give you any pleasure that we should believe
these remarkable statements--"
"I have assured you that it will.
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