were laid before me. It was manifest that the lady had
submitted to be married in a public manner and with all regular forms,
while she had a baby, as it were, in her arms. And I got all the dates.
Taking that marriage for granted, Mountjoy was clearly illegitimate, and
I was driven so to confess. Then I took up arms on behalf of Augustus.
Augustus was a thoroughly bad fellow,--a bully and a tyrant; but he was
the eldest son. Then came the question of paying the debts. I thought
it a very good thing that the debts should be payed in the proposed
fashion. The men were all to get the money they had actually lent, and
no better arrangement seemed to be probable. I helped in that, feeling
that it was all right. But it was a swindle that I was made to assist
in. Of course it was a swindle, if the Rummelsburg marriage be true, and
all these creditors think that I have been a party to it. Then I swore
that I wouldn't believe the Rummelsburg marriage. But Barry and the rest
of them only shake their heads and laugh, and I am told that Mr.
Scarborough was the best lawyer among us!"

"What does it matter? How can that hurt you?" asked Dolly.

"It does hurt me;--that is the truth. I have been at my business long
enough. Another system has grown up which does not suit me. I feel that
they all can put their fingers in my eyes. It may be that I am a fool,
and that my idea of honesty is a mistake."

"No!" shouted Dolly.

"I heard of a rich American the other day who had been poor, and was
asked how he had suddenly become so well off. 'I found a partner,' said
the American, 'and we went into business together. He had the capital
and I had the experience. We just made a change. He has the experience
now and I have the capital.' When I knew that story I went to strip his
coat off the wretch's back; but Mr. Barry would give him a fine fur
cloak as a mark of respect. When I find that clever rascals are
respectable, I think it is time that I should give up work altogether."

Thus it was that Mr. Grey left the house of Grey & Barry, driven to
premature retirement by the vices, or rather frauds, of old Mr.
Scarborough. When Augustus went to work, which he did immediately on his
father's death, to wrest the property from the hands of his brother,--or
what part of the property might be possible,--Mr. Grey absolutely
declined to have anything to do with the case. Mr. Barry explained how
impossible it was that the house, even for its own sake