ld never let you have so vast a slice out of the
mammoth fortune! Your third of the estate must follow Clarence's share
of the business--into nothingness. You must play magnanimity, sacrifice
your third, and content yourself with a suitable provision," said
Fabian, equably.

"I will never do that! I would not do it to save your life, Fabian
Rockharrt!"

"Oh, yes, you will, my darling. Not to save my life, but to save
yourself from being denounced to Mr. Rockharrt, and turned out of this
house, destitute and degraded."

"I don't care if I should be! Do you think me quite a baby in your
hands? I have been reflecting since you have been talking to me. I have
been remembering that you told me that the law gives the widow one third
of her late husband's property when he dies intestate, and entitles her
to it, no matter what sort of a will he makes."

"Unless there has been a settlement, my angel," said Mr. Fabian,
composedly.

"Well, there has been no settlement in my case. So whether Aaron
Rockharrt should die intestate, or whether he should make a will, I am
sure of my lawful third. So I defy you, Mr. Fabian Rockharrt. You may
denounce me to your father He may turn me out of doors without a penny,
and 'without a character,' as the servants say, but he cannot divorce
me, because I have been faithful to him ever since our marriage. I could
compel him by law to support me, even though he might not let me share
his home. He would be obliged by law to give me alimony in proportion to
his income, and, oh! what a magnificent revenue that would be for
me--with freedom from his tyranny into the bargain! And at his death,
which could not be long coming at his age, and after such a shock as his
dutiful son proposes to give him, I should come in for my third. And,
oh, where so rich a widow as I should be! With forty or fifty years of
life before me in which to enjoy my fortune! Ah, you see, my clever Mr.
Fabian Rockharrt, though you frightened me out of self-possession at
first, when I come to think over the situation, I find that you can do
me no great harm. If you should put your threats in execution and bring
about a violent separation between myself and my husband, you would do
me a signal favor, for I should gain my personal freedom, with a
handsome alimony during his life, and at his death a third of his vast
estate," she concluded, snapping her fingers in his face.

"I think not."

"Yes; I would."

"No; you would not