"Why not, you impudent young rascal?"
"Because I should let the relationship be known."
"Well?"
"And why is it that you deny it?"
"Well," said Mr. Grey, his attention caught, "why do I deny it?"
"Because you are in possession of my father's property, which, of right, belongs to me!" said Gilbert, firmly, looking his uncle in the eyes. "It is your interest to deny the relationship."
James Grey saw that his long injustice had come home to him at last. How could this stripling have learned what he had taken such pains to conceal? What was he to do? Was he to admit the boy's claims, and surrender the estate? He could not make up his mind to do it. He must stave off the attack, if he could.
"This is a ridiculous story," he said. "Somebody has been making a fool of you."
"Didn't you have an older brother, named John?"
"Yes," Mr. Grey admitted, unwillingly.