Agree with you there Hack about lack of integrity and courage by the PL.

As to pleading guilty it looks to me like it was just Eggy accepting the best advice he was getting (to plead guilty and go for mitigation) and using what proved to be good judgment in the process.

The ruthless side of him is shown in how he used the situation to deny Aldridge a chance to challenge Scudamore's account of their meeting. And it was the alleged deceit (never proven by the way but bandied around by all and sundry) that is at the heart of all the pious comments.

"and you who philosophise disgrace ... take the rag away from your face.
Now ain't the time for your tears"

(B Dylan - The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll)