Frank was rather confounded by the manner of the squire and was silent.
“Young man,” said Learmont, “your father did a service to the Learmonts.”
“I know it,” said Frank.
“In return for that service, the Learmonts gave him a patrimony, an estate, on the substance of which you live.”
“’Tis well known,” cried Frank. “The service was not overpaid. My father saved your father’s life.”
“True,” sneered Learmont, “but beware!”
“Beware of what?”
“The house that was powerful enough to make a peasant an independent man can again convert the audacious son of a peasant into a hind he should have been. Beware I say. You know my motto.”
“I do. ‘Constant till death!’”
“Constant till death. Constant in all things, including—revenge!”