“This being your reply, I must discharge my duty fully. Pray mark me, now, Sir Thomas. Did you not give instructions to a certain man to take your brother's child out of your path—out of your sight—out of your hearing? And, Sir Thomas, was not that man very liberally rewarded for that act? I pray you, sir, to think seriously of this, as I need not say that if you persist in rejecting our conditions, a serious matter you will find it.”
Another contemptuous inclination, and “you have my reply, sir,” was all the baronet could trust himself to say.
“I now come to a transaction of a more recent date, Sir Thomas.”
“Ah!” said the baronet, “I thought I should have had the pleasure of introducing the discussion of that transaction. You really are, however, quite a universal genius—so clear and eloquent upon all topics, that I suppose I may leave it in your hands.”
“A young man, named Fenton, has suddenly disappeared from this neighborhood.”
“Indeed! Why, I must surely live at the antipodes, or in the moon, or I could not plead such ignorance of those great events.”
“You are aware, Sir Thomas, that the person passing under that name is your brother's son—the legitimate heir to the title and property of which you are in the unjust possession.”
Another bow. “I thank you, sir. I really am deriving much information at your hands.”
“Now I demand, Sir Thomas Gourlay, in the name of his injured mother, what you have done with that young man?”
“It would be useless to conceal it,” replied the other. “As you seem to know everything, of course you know that. To your own knowledge, therefore, I beg most respectfully to refer you.”