noon
I am what one man 's perfidy has made ; I may yet learn to be worthy of another man 's devotion . What more , Manuel ? '' `` I thought I should have only a defeat to show you , but today has given me a strange success . At noon a gentleman arrived and asked for Gilbert . He was absent , but upon offering information relative to the time of his return , which proved my intimacy with him , this Seguin entered into conversation with me . His evident desire to avoid Mrs. Redmond and waylay her husband interested me , and when he questioned me somewhat closely concerning Gilbert 's habits and movements of late , my suspicions were roused ; and on mentioning the debt so promptly discharged , I received a confidence that startled me . In a moment of despair Gilbert had forged the name of his former friend , whom he believed abroad , had drawn the money and freed himself from my power , but not for long .