present time as a gentleman and a friend,"
replied Oaklands; "you have proved yourself unworthy of either title,
and deserve nothing at my hands but the strictest justice; no one could
blame me were I to allow the law to take its course with you, as with
any other swindler, but this I shall be most unwilling to do; nothing
short of Dr. Mildman's declaring it to be my positive duty will prevail
upon me. But our tutor ought to be informed of it, and shall: he is a
good, kind-hearted man, and if his judgment should err at all, you may
feel sure it will be on the side of mercy. Fairlegh, will you go down
and ask Dr. Mildman if I can speak to him on a matter of importance,
now, at once? you will find him in his study. Let me know when he is
ready, and we will come down; for," added he, turning to Cumberland,
"I do not lose sight of you till this business is settled one way or
other."

When I had told my errand Dr. Mildman, who looked a good deal surprised
and a little frightened, desired me (on receiving my assurance that the
business would not do as well after dinner) to tell Oaklands to come to
him immediately. To this Oaklands replied by desiring me to hold myself
in readiness for a summons, as he should want me presently. Then,
linking his arm within that of Cumberland, he half-led, half-forced, him
out of the room. In another minute I heard the study-door close behind
them.

"Now, Fairlegh," said Dr. Mildman, when, in about a quarter of an hour's
time, I had been sent for, "I wish you to repeat to me the conversation
you overheard at the billiard-room, as nearly word for word as you can
remember it."

This I hastened to do; the Doctor listening with the most profound
attention, and asking one or two questions on any point which did not
at first appear quite clear to him. When I had concluded he resumed his
inquiries by asking whether I had seen the parties who were speaking. To
this I answered in the negative.

"But you imagined you recognised the voices?"

"Yes, sir."

"Whose did you take them to be?"

~90~~"One I believed to be Cumberland's, the other that of a Captain
Spicer, whom I had seen when I was there before."

"How often have you been there?"

"Twice, sir; once about a week ago, and again to-day."

"And have you the slightest moral doubt as to the fact of the persons
you heard speaking being Cumberland and this Captain Spicer?"

"Not the slightest; I feel quite certain of it."

"That is all c