I. And I mean to learn the truth."

"But how?"

"That is for us to consider; but of one thing I am quite sure. I am
quite certain that we must not allow ourselves to be afraid of your
brother. To speak the truth, as it must be spoken, he is a bully,
George."

"I would rather you would not abuse him, sir."

"Speak ill of him I must. His character is bad, and I have to speak of
it. He is a bully. He set himself to work to put me down when I did
myself the honour to call on him, because he felt that my connexion
with you would probably make me an enemy to him. I intend that he shall
know that he cannot put me down. He is undoubtedly Lord Brotherton. He
is the owner of a wide property. He has many privileges and much power,
with which I cannot interfere. But there is a limit to them. If he have
a legitimate son, those privileges will be that son's property, but he
has to show to the world that that son is legitimate. When a man
marries before all the world, in his own house, and a child is born to
him as I may say openly, the proofs are there of themselves. No
bringing up of evidence is necessary. The thing is simple, and there is
no suspicion and no enquiry. But he has done the reverse of this, and
now flatters himself that he can cow those who are concerned by a
domineering manner. He must be made to feel that this will not
prevail."

"Sarah thinks that he should be invited to produce the necessary
certificates." Lord George, when he dropped his sister's title in
speaking of her to the Dean, must have determined that very familiar
intercourse with the Dean was a necessity.

"Lady Sarah is always right. That should be the first step. But will
you invite him to do so? How shall the matter be broken to him?"

"She thinks a lawyer should do it."

"It must be done either by you or by a lawyer." Lord George looked very
blank. "Of course, if the matter were left in my hands;--if I had to do
it,--I should not do it personally. The question is, whether you might
not in the first instance write to him?"

"He would not notice it."

"Very likely not. Then we must employ a lawyer."

The matter was altogether so distasteful to Lord George, that more than
once during the interview he almost made up his mind that he would
withdraw altogether from the work, and at any rate appear to take it
for granted that the child was a real heir, an undoubted Popenjoy. But
then, as often, the Dean showed him that he could not so withdra