Sir Denzil's reception of him was characteristic.
"Well, I'm ----! So you've turned up again." And he eyed his grandson, over a pinch of snuff, as though he were some new and offensive reptile. "What is the meaning of this, sir?" And his hankering after the boy whom, in his innermost mind, he had come to think of as his legitimate heir, and his thwarted satisfaction at what he had hoped was in any case the cutting of his Gordian knot, and a certain anxiety in the matter, which he had very successfully concealed from every one else--all these in combination resulted in an explosion.
He listened blackly to such explanation as Jim vouchsafed, peremptorily demanded more, and the boy refused.
"You will tell me all you know," said the old man sternly--hoping through fuller knowledge to arrive, perchance, at some clue to the great problem behind.
"I promised, sir!" said Jim.
"Hang your promise, sir! I absolve you from any such promise. You will tell me all you know."
But Jim set his lips stolidly and would not say another word.
"You won't? Then, by----, I'll teach you to do what you're told." And laying hold of the boy by the neck of his blue guernsey, he caught up his ebony stick and rained savage blows on the quivering little back before Eager could attempt rescue.
"Stop, sir! Stop!" cried Eager, in great distress at this outbreak, and caught at the flailing arm.
"---- you, sir! Keep off, or I'll thrash you too!" shouted the furious old man, and turned and threatened the interrupter with the heavy silver knob.