Earle was his son—that fact was established beyond a doubt—and he had said he would never stoop to anything like revenge; he had once said that he would not avail himself of the slightest advantage to do him an injury; he had also said that he desired to put in practice the mandate, “Love your enemies, do good to those who despitefully injure you.” If that was the case he would doubtless be ready to forgive him for all the wrong he had done him in the past, and if he expressed sorrow in a proper manner he would doubtless receive him into favor, and he could after all be able to worm himself into Wycliffe and be looked up to and honored as the father of the young marquis. It was strange that no feelings of guilt or shame restrained him. He did not hate Marion one whit the less, nor Earle either, because he henceforth might be able to enjoy what had so long been denied him.
But he was resolved to make the fact of their relationship serve him a good turn; he would get all he could out of him, gratify every selfish desire, accept every good thing that he could possibly worm out of him, and let all the former wrong he had done him go for naught.
He still hated him, I say, as such natures always hate those who have risen triumphant above them, and he would have gloried in it if he could have hurled him from his proud position and made the whole world despise and hate him likewise; but, as long as there was any prospect of advantage to be gained for himself, he must hide it and put on the semblance of regret and future good-will.
“You say that your claim is indisputably established at Wycliffe?” he asked, after he had thought these things well over.
“Yes,” Earle answered, lifting his haggard face, with a heavy sigh; “everything was so clearly proved that no one could gainsay it.”
“That is exceedingly fortunate. When shall you return?”
“Immediately,” Earle said, with white lips.
“How did you find the estates and rent-roll?” Mr. Dalton asked, with another cunning gleam in his eyes.
“In a very flourishing condition,” Earle answered briefly.
He was beginning to mistrust toward what these inquiries were tending.