“Whose doing is this?” said Fledgeby.

“Impossible to imagine,” said Lammle.

“Perhaps,” suggested Fledgeby, after reflecting with a very discontented brow, “somebody has been giving you a bad character.”

“Or you,” said Lammle, with a deeper frown.

Mr. Fledgeby appeared to be on the verge of some mutinous expressions, when his hand happened to touch his nose. A certain remembrance connected with that feature operating as a timely warning, he took it thoughtfully between his thumb and forefinger, and pondered; Lammle meanwhile eyeing him with furtive eyes.

“Well!” said Fledgeby. “This won’t improve with talking about. If we ever find out who did it, we’ll mark that person. There’s nothing more to be said, except that you undertook to do what circumstances prevent your doing.”