The right course was to appear resigned, saddened, compelled against his will to reveal the distressing truth.

Further, he counted on Anstruther's quick temper as an active agent.

Such a man would be the first to rebel against an assumption of pitying tolerance.

He would bring bitter charges of conspiracy, of unbelievable compact to secure his ruin.

All this must recoil on his own head when the facts were laid bare.