Rodney Stone . vil passions, of anger, of jealousy,of disappointed greed, upon a human face before. Am I to understand, said he, in a loud, harshvoice, that this young man claims to be the heirof the peerage of Avon ? He is my lawful son. I knew you fairly well, sir, in our youth, butyou will allow me to observe that neither I norany friend of yours ever heard of a wife or defy Sir Charles Tregellis to say that he everdreamed that there was any heir except myself. I have already explained. Sir Lothian, why Ikept ray marriage secret. You have explained, sir, but it is for othersin another
Rodney Stone . vil passions, of anger, of jealousy,of disappointed greed, upon a human face before. Am I to understand, said he, in a loud, harshvoice, that this young man claims to be the heirof the peerage of Avon ? He is my lawful son. I knew you fairly well, sir, in our youth, butyou will allow me to observe that neither I norany friend of yours ever heard of a wife or defy Sir Charles Tregellis to say that he everdreamed that there was any heir except myself. I have already explained. Sir Lothian, why Ikept ray marriage secret. You have explained, sir, but it is for othersin another place to say if that explanation is satis-factory. Two blazing dark eyes flashed out of the pale,haggard face with as strange and sudden an effectas if a stream of light were to beat through thewindows of a shattered and ruined house. You dare to doubt my word ! I demand a proof. My word is proof to those who know me. Excuse me. Lord Avon, but I know you, andI see no reason why I should accept your Lord Avon staggered forward. LORD AVON. 367 It was a brutal speech, and brutally Avon staggered forward, and it was onlyhis son on one side and his wife on the otherwho kept his quivering hands from the throat ofhis insulter. Sir Lothian recoiled from the pale,fierce face with the black brows, but he stillglared angrily about the room. A very pretty conspiracy, this, he cried, with a criminal, an actress, and a prize-fighterall playing their parts.—Sir Charles Tregellis, yousnail hear from me again !—And you, also, mylord ! He turned on his heel and strode fromthe room. He has gone to denounce me, said LordAvon, a spasm of wounded pride distorting hisfeatures. Shall I bring him back ? cried Boy Jim. No, no, let him go. It is as well, for I havealready made up my mind that my duty to you,my son, outweighs that which I owe, and have atsuch bitter cost fulfilled to my brother and myfamily. You did me an injustice, Ned, said my un-cle, if you thought that
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