Theearlwassilentforalongwhile。Itwasasifheponderedhowheshouldanswer，orwhetherheshouldansweratall。Atlast，inalowvoice，afainttingereddeninghisface，hiseyesaverted，heexplained。Itshamedhimsotodo，yetmusthesatisfythatcravingofweakwindstounburden，toseekreliefinconfession。\"MineisthecaseofCraggs，thesecretaryofstate，\"hesaid。\"AndCraggs，you\'llremember，shothimself。\"
\"MyGod，\"saidMr。Caryll，andopenedwidehiseyes。\"Didyou-？\"Hepaused，notknowingwhateuphemismtosupplyforthethinghislordshipmusthavedone。
Hislordshiplookedup，sneeringalmostinself-derision。\"I
did，\"heanswered。\"Totellyouall-Iacceptedtwentythousandpounds\'worthofSouthSeastockwhenthecompanywasfirstformed，forwhichIdidnotpayotherthanbylendingtheschemethesupportofmynameatatimewhensuchsupportwasneeded。Iwasoftheministry，then，youwillremember。\"
Mr。Caryllconsideredhimagain，andwonderedamomentattheconfession，tillheunderstoodbyintuitionthatthematteranditsconsequencesweresodeeplypreyingupontheman\'smindthathecouldnotrefrainfromgivingventtohisfears。