"Very little beside her name."
"Ah! she told you her name, then?"
"Yes, she told me her name."
"Well, cousin?"
"Well, sir?" We had both risen, and now fronted each other
across the anvil, Sir Maurice debonair and smiling, while I stood
frowning and gloomy.
"Come," said I at last, "let us understand each other once for
all. You tell me that you have always looked upon me as your
rival for our uncle's good graces--I never was. You have
deceived yourself into believing that because I was his ward that
alone augmented my chances of becoming the heir; it never did.
He saw me as seldom as possible, and, if he ever troubled his
head about either of us, it would seem that he favored you. I
tell you I never was your rival in the past, and never shall be
in the future."
"Meaning, cousin?"
"Meaning, sir, in regard to either the legacy or the Lady Sophia
Sefton. I was never fond enough of money, to marry for it. I
have never seen this lady, nor do I propose to, thus, so far as I
am concerned, you are free to win her and the fortune as soon as
you will; I, as you see, prefer horseshoes."
"And what," said Sir Maurice, flicking a speck of soot from his
cuff, and immediately looking at me again, "what of Charmian?"
"I don't know," I answered, "nor should I be likely to tell you,
if I did; wherever she may be she is safe, I trust, and beyond
your reach--"
"No," he broke in, "she will never be beyond my reach until she is
dead--or I am--perhaps not even then, and I shall find her again,
sooner or later, depend upon it--yes, you may depend upon that!"
"Cousin Maurice," said I, reaching out my hand to him, "wherever
she may be, she is alone and unprotected--pursue her no farther.
Go back to London, marry your Lady Sefton, inherit your fortune,
but leave Charmian Brown in peace."
"And pray," said he, frowning suddenly, "whence this solicitude
de on her behalf? What is she to you--this Charmian Brown?"
"Nothing," I answered hurriedly, "nothing at all, God knows--nor
ever can be--" Sir Maurice leaned suddenly forward, and,
catching me by the shoulder, peered into my face.
"By Heaven!" he exclaimed, "the fellow--actually loves her!"
"Well?" said I, meeting his look, "why not? Yes, I love her." A
very fury of rage seemed suddenly to possess him, the languid,
smiling gentleman became a devil with vicious eyes and evil,
snarling mouth, whose fingers sank into my flesh as he swung me
back and forth in a powerful grip.