He hoped that Charlotte Halliday would die. If by her death he could tide
over his difficulties and drift into smooth water, it would be but a very
small thing to him that Dr. Jedd, and Dr. Doddleson enlightened by his
colleague, and Valentine Hawkehurst, and Diana Paget, and a stupid
pig-headed old Yorkshirewoman, should carry in their minds for the
remainder of their lives the suspicion that by his means that fair young
life had been brought to its early close.
What would it amount to in the future of his own existence? Prudential
considerations would induce these people to lock the secret of this
suspicion in their own breasts. Dr. Jedd would bow to him somewhat
coldly, perhaps, if they met in the streets of London, or possibly might
refuse to make any return to his passing salutation; but the cut direct
from Dr. Jedd would not cast a shadow over his commercial career, or even
weaken his social position. If, by the loud folly of Hawkehurst, some
evil rumour about him should float as far eastward as the Stock Exchange,
who would be found to give credence to the dark report? Men would shrug
their shoulders and shake their heads incredulously; and one of these
wise men of the east would remark that, "A fellow in Sheldon's position
doesn't do that kind of thing, you know;" while another would say, "I
dined with him at Greenwich last summer, and a remarkably good dinner he
gave us.
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