Raney's face grew hard and defiant.
"He was."
Loring nodded. "When he was killed the Guv'nor noticed the name. I rather think your property marches with some of ours. You're County Longford, aren't you?"
"The property is. I, Lord Chepstow, am what you would doubtless call a bastard."
Loring sprang to his feet.
"Raney, you damned little swine——!"
"It's true!" O'Rane answered, jumping up and facing him.
"It's not true that I would ...!"
"Oh, perhaps not. But I've been called it—and by lineal descendants of the Unrepentant Thief, too. You've got nickel-plated manners, of course."
"If you were worth a curse, you'd apologize," said Loring, hotly.