‘Did you meet him?’
‘I did; so did you; you knew him, well.’
‘I, father? Preposterous; where, pray, did we meet?’
‘He served as a private in the Duke’s Own. His name—the name he went by, at least—was Larkins.’
‘Larkins! the sergeant? Poor Ernest’s champion? Never!’
‘This Mr. Larkins whom I received here at your mother’s express desire, whom I treated with the utmost consideration, proved a snake in the grass. He first thwarted me with regard to old Lady Farrington’s release from confinement; then, with her, concocted a scheme of which I have only to-day learnt the real intent. This letter from the lawyers is nothing more or less than a notice to quit—a regular notice of ejectment, in favour of Herbert Farrington, son of Herbert of the same name, and grandson of the last baronet.’
‘It’s a swindle, of course, from beginning to end; a trumped-up story. You won’t submit, father, I trust, to such a barefaced imposition?’
Letitia was in arms at once; for the threatened action struck at her more, perhaps, than any one else.
‘I shall defend myself and you, you may depend upon it. I shall not submit tamely to any attempt at extortion. It is really life and death to me.’
‘Is it not the same to me, and to my children—to my Rupert, who some day will be your heir? Are we to be robbed with impunity? Certainly not.’