“I do,” said she, faintly.
“Do you understand me?”
“Yes.”
“Enough, then. Leave me now, and let me have peace.”
“Uncle—dear uncle,” she began; but he stopped her at once.
“None of this—none of this with me, young woman. You are free to make your choice: you are my adopted daughter, or, you are the grandchild of a man whose claim to be notorious will soon dispute with ours. It is an easy thing to make up your mind upon.”
“I have done so already, Sir.”
“Very well, so much the better. Leave me now. I wish to be alone.”
“Let me say good-by, Sir; let me kiss your hand, and say, for the last time, how grateful I am for all your past kindness.”
He never spoke, but continued to stare at her with an expression of wonderment and surprise.