The old man, having all the while a crude, dim sense of outrunning his heart, gave the youth time to recover himself, if it were a thing worth recovering.
“Now, as to our arrangements—the subject I wished to speak about. I only require your consent to the terms I propose, until, in the natural course of events, you succeed to the family property”.
“What family property, sir”? Cradockʼs head was dizzy still, the bleeding had done him good.
“Why, of course, the Nowelhurst property; all these entailed estates, to which you are now sole heir”.
“I will never touch one shilling, nor step upon one acre of it”.
“Under your motherʼs—that is to say, under my marriage–settlement”, continued Sir Cradock, in the same tone, as if his son were only bantering, “you are at once entitled to the sum of 50,000l. invested in Three per Cent. Consols—which would have been—I mean, which was meant for younger children. This sum the trustees will be prepared—— ”
“Do you think I will touch it? Am I a thief as well as a murderer”?
“I shall also make arrangements for securing to you, until my death, an income of 5000l. per annum. This you can draw for quarterly, and the cheques will be countersigned by my steward, Mr. Garnet”.
“Of course, lest I should forge. Once for all, hear me, Sir Cradock Nowell. So help me the God who has now forsaken me, who has turned my life to death, and made my own father curse me—every word of yours is a curse, I say—so help me that God (if there be one to help, as well as to smite a man), till you crave my pardon upon your knees, as I have craved yours this day, I will never take one yard of your land, I will never call myself ‘Nowell’, or own you again as my father. God knows I am very unlucky and little, but you have shown yourself less. And some day you will know it”.