He resolved to take him into his confidence.
"I spoke from selfish motives," he said, at last.

"I wanted you to make friends with your father again." "What for ?" inquired the other, staring.
"To pave the way for me," said Hardy, raising his voice as he thought of his wrongs; "and now, owing to your confounded matrimonial business, that's all knocked on the head.

I wouldn't care whom you married if it didn't interfere with my affairs so." "Do you mean," inquired the astonished Mr.Nugent, "that you want to be on friendly terms with my father ?" "Yes." Mr.Nugent gazed at him round-eyed.

"You haven't had a blow on the head or anything of that sort at any time, have you ?" he inquired.
Hardy shook his head impatiently.

"You don't seem to suffer from an excess of intellect yourself," he retorted.