A very deep,
malicious, vindictive person is the gentleman who is now awaiting
us downstairs. You know that he was once refused by McFarlane's
mother? You don't! I told you that you should go to Blackheath
first and Norwood afterwards. Well, this injury, as he would
consider it, has rankled in his wicked, scheming brain, and all
his life he has longed for vengeance, but never seen his chance.
During the last year or two things have gone against him --
secret speculation, I think -- and he finds himself in a bad way.
He determines to swindle his creditors, and for this purpose he
pays large cheques to a certain Mr. Cornelius, who is, I imagine,
himself under another name. I have not traced these cheques yet,
but I have no doubt that they were banked under that name at some
provincial town where Oldacre from time to time led a double
existence. He intended to change his name altogether, draw this
money, and vanish, starting life again elsewhere."
"Well, that's likely enough."
"It would strike him that in disappearing he might throw all
pursuit off his track, and at the same time have an ample and
crushing revenge upon his old sweetheart, if he could give the
impression that he had been murdered by her only child.
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