‘Such mistakes have to be paid for—and the law assesses the price.’
‘It is easy enough to say you are sorry—the law can make no allowance for regret.’
Conyngham turned his attention to his breakfast, deeming it useless to continue the topic.
‘It was a mistake to attend the meeting at Durham—you admit that?’ continued Sir John.
‘Yes—I admit that, if it is any satisfaction to you.’
‘Then it was worse than a mistake to actually lead the men out to my house for the purpose of breaking the windows. It was almost a crime. I would suggest to you, as a soldier for the moment, to lead a charge up a steep hill against a body of farm labourers and others entrenched behind a railing.’
‘And yet you did that,’ said Sir John. ‘If you are going to break the law you should insure success before embarking on your undertaking.’
‘It was also a stupid error, if I may say so, to make your way back to Durham by Ravensworth, where you were seen and recognised. You see I have a good case against you, Mr. Conyngham.’
‘Yes, I admit you have a good case against me, but you have not caught me yet.’
‘You do not even take the trouble to deny the facts I have named.’
‘Why should I, when they are true?’ asked Conyngham carelessly.
Sir John Pleydell leant back in his chair.
‘I have classified you,’ he said with a queer laugh.
‘Ah!’ answered Conyngham, suddenly uneasy.
He leant forward with a deprecating gesture of his thin white hand.
‘Do not be offended,’ he said, ‘and do not reproach yourself for having given your case away. You never had a case, Mr. Conyngham. Chartists are not made of your material at all. As soon as you gave me your card in Madrid, I had a slight suspicion. I thought you were travelling under a false name. It was plain to the merest onlooker that you were not the man I sought. You are too easy-going, too much of a gentleman to be a Chartist. You are screening somebody else. You have played the part well, and with an admirable courage and fidelity. I wish my boy Alfred had had a few such friends as you. But you are a fool, Mr. Conyngham. No man on earth is worth the sacrifice that you have made.’
Conyngham slowly stirred his coffee. He was meditating.
‘You have pieced together a very pretty tale,’ he said at length. ‘Some new scheme to get me within the reach of the English law, no doubt.’