Such thoughts were the work of a moment.

这种想法是一时兴起的。

To convince him, therefore, that he had deceived himself, was no very difficult point. To persuade him against returning into Hertfordshire, when that conviction had been given, was scarcely the work of a moment.

我轻而易举地说服了他，使他相信这事情是他自己一时糊涂。他既然有了这个信念，我们便进一步说服他不要回到哈福德郡去，这当然不费吹灰之力。