"Of what crime does Mr. Hepworth Closs charge me?"
"I make no special charge, Lord Hope; but there is an old woman in America suffering the penalty of a crime which she never committed—which you know she never committed."
"The law decided otherwise, if I remember rightly," answered the earl, in a quiet, calm voice. "But even if it did not, does that relate to the question in hand?"
"No, no, and I am to blame in mentioning it—Heaven knows I wish to think the best! I admit, my lord, your prejudices against me would have been just when we knew each other so well; but I was very young then and can fairly claim to have worked out an honorable redemption from the faults of my youth. Believe me, I have won more than a respectable position among men; have wealth from my own exertions enough to satisfy even your wishes. True, I have not the rank to match yours; but there was a time when you thought it no disgrace to mate with my family."
Lord Hope was moved out of his proud calm now. He lifted his hand with a suddenness that was threatening, and cried out:
"Peace, sir! I have heard enough of this!"
"But I must remind you again that Lady Hope is my only sister, and in these insults you degrade her."
"Degrade her, when she is my wife!"
These words were drawn out with proud emphasis that stung Hepworth like a wasp.
"My lord," he said, "I will bear much from you, because I once loved you, but more from the fact that you are my sister's husband and her father; but I warn you not even by a tone to cast reproach or slur upon your wife. She became such against my wishes and in spite of my protest. That lady has all the elements of greatness within herself."