enness which should, he
thought, characterise all family doings in such a family as that of the
Germains. "I don't know of what kind you mean," he said, shuffling, and
knowing that he shuffled. "I don't suppose my brother would do anything
really wrong. But it's a blot to the family--a terrible blot."

"She is a lady of good family,--a Marchese," said Mr. Knox.

"An Italian Marchese!" said Lord George, with that infinite contempt
which an English nobleman has for foreign nobility not of the highest
order.

He had learnt that Miss Houghton's story was true, and was certainly
very unhappy. It was not at all that he had pictured to himself the
glory of being himself the Marquis of Brotherton after his brother's
death; nor was it only the disappointment which he felt as to any
possible son of his own, though on that side he did feel the blow. The
reflection which perplexed him most was the consciousness that he must
quarrel with his brother, and that after such a quarrel he would become
nobody in the world. And then, added to this, was the sense of family
disgrace. He would have been quite content with his position had he
been left master of the house at Manor Cross, even without any of his
brother's income wherewith to maintain the house. But now he would only
be his wife's husband, the Dean's son-in-law, living on their money,
and compelled by circumstances to adapt himself to them. He almost
thought that had he known that he would be turned out of Manor Cross,
he would not have married. And then, in spite of his disclaimer to Mr.
Knox, he was already suspicious of some foul practice. An heir to the
title and property, to all the family honours of the Germains, had
suddenly burst upon him, twelve months,--for aught that he knew, two or
three years,--after the child's birth! Nobody had been informed when
the child was born, or in what circumstances,--except that the mother
was an Italian widow! What evidence on which an Englishman might rely
could possibly be forthcoming from such a country as Italy! Poor Lord
George, who was himself as honest as the sun, was prepared to believe
all evil things of people of whom he knew nothing! Should his brother
die,--and his brother's health was bad,--what steps should he take?
Would it be for him to accept this Italian brat as the heir to
everything, or must he ruin himself by a pernicious lawsuit? Looking
forward he saw nothing but family misery and disgrace, and he saw,
also, inev