He would deny and laugh at it.

I could prove nothing.

I am therefore more directly interested than he is in keeping silence.
"In trusting this secret to you, I rely firmly upon your mentioning it to no one else--not even to your sister.

You are at liberty, if you wish, to show this letter to one person only--to Mr.Ratcliffe himself.
That done, you will, I beg, burn it immediately.
"With the warmest good wishes, I am, "Ever most truly yours, "John Carrington." When Mrs.Lee had finished reading this letter, she remained for some time quite silent, looking out into the square below.

The morning had come, and the sky was bright with the fresh April sunlight.