y dear Glencore, this is all little short of madness; even as revenge
it is a failure, since the heaviest share of the penalty recoils upon
yourself."

"How so?" cried he, impetuously.

"Is it thus that an ancient name is to go out forever? Is it in this
wise that a house noble for centuries is to crumble into ruin? I will
not again urge upon you the cruel wrong you are doing. Over that boy's
inheritance you have no more right than over mine,--you cannot rob him
of the protection of the law. No power could ever give you the disposal
of his destiny in this wise."

"I have done it, and I will maintain it, sir," cried Glencore; "and if
the question is, as you vaguely hint, to be one of law--"

"No, no, Glencore; do not mistake me."

"Hear me out, sir," said he, passionately. "If it is to be one of law,
let Sir Horace Upton give his testimony,--tell all that he knows,--and
let us see what it will avail him. You may--it is quite open to
you--place us front to front as enemies. You may teach the boy to regard
me as one who has robbed him of his birthright, and train him up to
become my accuser in a court of justice. But my cause is a strong one,
it cannot be shaken; and where you hope to brand _me_ with tyranny,
you will but visit bastardy upon _him_. Think twice, then, before you
declare this combat. It is one where all your craft will not sustain
you."

"My dear Glencore, it is not in this spirit that we can speak
profitably to each other. If you will not hear my reasons calmly and
dispassionately, to what end am I here? You have long known me as one
who lays claim to no more rigid morality than consists with the theory
of a worldly man's experiences. I affect no high-flown sentiments. I am
as plain and practical as may be; and when I tell you that you are wrong
in this affair, I mean to say that what you are about to do is not only
bad, but impolitic. In your pursuit of a victim, you are immolating
yourself."

"Be it so; I go not alone to the stake; there is another to partake of
the torture," cried Glencore, wildly; and already his flushed cheek and
flashing eyes betrayed the approach of a feverish access.

"If I am not to have any influence with you, then," resumed Upton, "I
am here to no purpose. If to all that I say--to arguments you cannot
answer--you obstinately persist in opposing an insane thirst for
revenge, I see not why you should desire my presence. You have resolved
to do this great wrong?"

"It is