I have been harassed,
persecuted, hunted by wretches, who got a scent of my gold; often in
my rage I longed to throw my treasure-bags to my pursuers, and bid
them leave me to die in peace. You have feelings, I see, both of you,
gentlemen; excuse me, and bear with my temper.'

'Bear with you! Much enforced, the best tempers will emit a hasty
spark,' said the count, looking at Lord Colambre, who was now cool
again; and who, with a countenance full of compassion, sat with his eyes
fixed upon the poor--no, not the poor, but the unhappy old man.

'Yes, I had another son,' continued Mr. Reynolds, 'and on him all my
affections concentrated when I lost my eldest, and for him I desired to
preserve the estate which his mother brought into my family. Since you
know nothing of my affairs, let me explain to you; that estate was so
settled, that it would have gone to the child, even the daughter of my
eldest son, if there had been a legitimate child. But I knew there
was no marriage, and I held out firm to my opinion. "If there was
a marriage," said I, "show me the marriage certificate, and I will
acknowledge the marriage, and acknowledge the child;" but they could
not, and I knew they could not; and I kept the estate for my darling
boy,' cried the old gentleman, with the exultation of successful
positiveness again appearing strong in his physiognomy; but suddenly
changing and relaxing, his countenance fell, and he added, 'But now I
have no darling boy. What use all!--all must go to the heir-at-law, or
I must will it to a stranger--a lady of quality, who has just found
out she is my relation--God knows how--I'm no genealogist--and sends
me Irish cheese and Iceland moss, for my breakfast, and her
waiting-gentlewoman to namby-pamby me. Oh, I'm sick of it all--see
through it--wish I was blind--wish I had a hiding-place, where
flatterers could not find me--pursued, chased--must change my lodgings
again to-morrow--will, will--I beg your pardon, gentlemen, again; you
were going to tell me, sir, something more of my eldest son; and how I
was led away from the subject, I don't know; but I meant only to have
assured you that his memory was dear to me, till I was so tormented
about that unfortunate affair of his pretended marriage, that at length
I hated to hear him named; but the heir-at-law, at last, will triumph
over me.'

'No, my good sir, not if you triumph over yourself, and do justice,'
cried Lord Colambre; 'if you listen to the tru