The noise, which the relation and repetition of these and other circumstances had made, had given him, I believe, considerable pain.

His friends too had urged some explanation as necessary.

But how short-sighted are they who do wrong! By coming forward in this imprudent manner, he fixed the stain only the more indelibly on himself; for he thus imposed upon me the cruel necessity of being examined against him; and this necessity was the more afflicting to me, because I was to be called upon, not to state facts relative to the trade, but to destroy his character as an evidence in its support.

I was to be called upon, in fact, to explain all those communications, which have been stated to have taken place between us on this subject.

Glad indeed should I have been to have declined this painful interference.