"Savannah, 18—
"MADAM,—Permit me to return this letter (wherein you declare yourself the loving and repentant daughter of Bernard Garie) and at the same time inform you, that by your own. acts you have deprived yourself of all claim to that relation. In opposition to my wishes, and in open defiance of my express commands, you chose to unite your fortune with one in every respect your inferior. If that union has not resulted as happily as you expected, you must sustain yourself by the reflection that you are the author of your own misfortunes and alone to blame for your present miserable condition.—Respectfully yours,
"BERNARD GARIE."
Mr. Balch read, one after another, letters of a similar purport—in fact, a long correspondence between Bernard Garie and the mother of Mr. Stevens. When he had finished, the latter remarked, "In addition to those, I can produce my mother's certificate of baptism, her marriage certificate, and every necessary proof of my being her son. If that does not suffice to make a strong case, I am at a loss to imagine what will."
Mr. Balch pondered a few moments, and then inquired, looking steadily at
Mr. Stevens, "How long have you known of this relationship?"
"Oh, I've known it these three years."
"Three years! why, my dear sir, only a few moments ago you said a few months."
"Oh, did I?" said Mr. Stevens, very much confused; "I meant, or should have said, three years."
"Then, of course you were aware that Mr. Garie was your cousin when he took the house beside you?"
"Oh, yes—that is—yes—yes; I was aware of it."