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But though able, by the probability of this conjecture, to account for the report concerning Belfield, the whole affair of the debt remained a difficulty not to be solved Mr Harrel, his wife, Mr Arnott, the Jew and Mr Monckton, were the only persons to whoh froht easily be supposed likely to transpire, those five were so particularly bound to silence, not only for her interest but their own, that it was not unreasonable to believe it as safe aned to one For herself, she had revealed it to no creature but Mr Monckton; not even to Delvile; though, upon her consenting to ht to be acquainted with the true state of her affairs; but such had been the hurry, distress, confusion and irresolution of her mind at that period, that this whole circumstance had been driven from it entirely, and she had, since, frequently blamed herself for such want of recollection Mr Harrel, for a thousand reasons, she was certain had never named it; and had the communication come from hisor from Mr Arnott, the motives would have been related as well as the debt, and she had been spared the reproach of contracting it for purposes of her own extravagance The Jew, indeed, was, to her, under no obligation of secrecy, but he had an obligation far ,--he was tied to himself
A suspicion now arose in her ood God! she exclaimed, can Mr Monckton---"
She stopt, even to herself;--she checked the idea;--she drove it hastily from her;--she was certain it was false and cruel,--she hated herself for having started it
"No," cried she, "he is my friend, the confirmed friend of many years, my isher from childhood, my zealous counsellor and assistant almost from my birth to this hour:--such perfidy from him would not even be human!"
Yet still her perplexity was undiminished; the affair was undoubtedly known, and it only could be known by the treachery of soenerosity co suspicions, she could not wholly quell thee aversion to the Delviles, his earnestness to break off her connexion with them, occurred to her remembrance, and haunted her perforce with surentleman, when he ca state, endeavouring to form conjectures upon what had happened, yet unable to succeed, but by suggestions which one moment excited her abhorrence of him, and the next of herself