Here is a considerable hiatus , Mr. Balfour , of near upon two months . It has already caused a vast amount of trouble to your friends ; and I own I shall not be very well contented until it is set right . '' `` Indeed , sir , '' said I , `` these months are very easily filled up ; but yet before I told my story , I would be glad to know that I was talking to a friend . '' `` This is to argue in a circle , '' said the lawyer . `` I can not be convinced till I have heard you . I can not be your friend till I am properly informed . If you were more trustful , it would better befit your time of life . And you know , Mr. Balfour , we have a proverb in the country that evil-doers are aye evil-dreaders . '' `` You are not to forget , sir , '' said I , `` that I have already suffered by my trustfulness ; and was shipped off to be a slave by the very man that -LRB- if I rightly understand -RRB- is your employer ? '' All this while I had been gaining ground with Mr. Rankeillor , and in proportion as I gained ground , gaining confidence . But at this sally , which I made with something of a smile myself , he fairly laughed aloud . `` No , no , '' said he , `` it is not so bad as that . Fui , non sum . I was indeed your uncle 's man of business ; but while you -LRB- imberbis juvenis custode remoto -RRB- were gallivanting in the west , a good deal of water has run under the bridges ; and if your ears did not sing , it was not for lack of being talked about . On the very day of your sea disaster , Mr. Campbell stalked into my office , demanding you from all the winds . I had never heard of your existence ; but I had known your father ; and from matters in my competence -LRB- to be touched upon hereafter -RRB- I was disposed to fear the worst . Mr. Ebenezer admitted having seen you ; declared -LRB- what seemed improbable -RRB- that he had given you considerable sums ; and that you had started for the continent of Europe , intending to fulfil your education , which was probable and praiseworthy . Interrogated how you had come to send no word to Mr. Campbell , he deponed that you had expressed a great desire to break with your past life . Further interrogated where you now were , protested ignorance , but believed you were in Leyden . That is a close sum of his replies .
I am not exactly sure that any one XXXXX him , '' continued Mr. Rankeillor with a smile ; `` and in particular he so much disrelished me expressions of mine that -LRB- in a word -RRB- he showed me to the door .
argue befit believed convinced demanding gallivanting heard made shipped stalked