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door； left Alain and myself closeted together。
Truly he had done nothing to ingratiate himself； his every word had
been steeped in unfriendliness； envy； and that contempt which （as
it is born of anger） it is possible to support without humiliation。
On my part； I had been little more conciliating； and yet I began to
be sorry for this man； hired spy as I knew him to be。 It seemed to
me less than decent that he should have been brought up in the
expectation of this great inheritance； and now； at the eleventh
hour； be tumbled forth out of the house door and left to himself；
his poverty and his debts … those debts of which I had so
ungallantly reminded him so short a time before。 And we were
scarce left alone ere I made haste to hang out a flag of truce。
'My cousin；' said I； 'trust me； you will not find me inclined to be
your enemy。'
He paused in front of me … for he had not accepted the lawyer's
invitation to be seated； but walked to and fro in the apartment …
took a pinch of snuff； and looked at me while he was taking it with
an air of much curiosity。
'Is it even so？' said he。 'Am I so far favoured by fortune as to
have your pity？ Infinitely obliged； my cousin Anne！ But these
sentiments are not always reciprocal； and I warn you that the day
when I set my foot on your neck； the spine shall break。 Are you
acquainted with the properties of the spine？' he asked with an
insolence beyond qualification。
It was too much。 'I am acquainted also with the properties of a
pair of pistols；' said I； toising him。
'No； no； no！' says he； holding up his finger。 'I will take my
revenge how and when I please。 We are enough of the same family to
understand each other； perhaps； and the reason why I have not had
you arrested on your arrival； why I had not a picket of soldiers in
the first clump of evergreens； to await and prevent your coming …
I； who knew all； before whom that pettifogger； Romaine； has been
conspiring in broad daylight to supplant me … is simply this： that
I had not made up my mind how I was to take my revenge。'
At that moment he was interrupted by the tolling of a bell。 As we
stood surprised and listening； it was succeeded by the sound of
many feet trooping up the stairs and shuffling by the door of our
room。 Both； I believe； had a great curiosity to set it open； which
each； owing to the presence of the other； resisted； and we waited
instead in silence； and without moving； until Romaine returned and
bade us to my uncle's presence。
He led the way by a little crooked passage； which brought us out in
the sick…room； and behind the bed。 I believe I have forgotten to
remark that the Count's chamber was of considerable dimensions。 We
beheld it now crowded with the servants and dependants of the
house； from the doctor and the priest to Mr。 Dawson and the
housekeeper； from Dawson down to Rowley and the last footman in
white calves； the last plump chambermaid in her clean gown and cap；
and the last ostler in a stable waiscoat。 This large congregation
of persons （and I was surprised to see how large it was） had the
appearance； for the most part； of being ill at ease and heartily
bewildered； standing on one foot； gaping like zanies； and those who
were in the corners nudging each other and grinning aside。 My
uncle； on the other hand； who was raised higher than I had yet seen
him on his pillows； wore an air of really imposing gravity。 No
sooner had we appeared behind him； than he lifted his voice to a
good loudness； and addressed the assemblage。
'I take you all to witness … can you hear me？ … I take you all to
witness that I recognise as my heir and representative this
gentleman； whom most of you see for the first time； the Viscount
Anne de St。…Yves； my nephew of the younger line。 And I take you to
witness at the same time that； for very good reasons known to
myself； I have discarded and disinherited this other gentleman whom
you all know； the Viscount de St。…Yves。 I have also to explain the
unusual trouble to which I have put you all … and； since your
supper was not over； I fear I may even say annoyance。 It has
pleased M。 Alain to make some threats of disputing my will； and to
pretend that there are among your number certain estimable persons
who may be trusted to swear as he shall direct them。 It pleases me
thus to put it out of his power and to stop the mouths of his false
witnesses。 I am infinitely obliged by your politeness； and I have
the honour to wish you all a very good evening。'
As the servants； still greatly mystified； crowded out of the
sickroom door； curtseying； pulling the forelock； scraping with the
foot； and so on； according to their degree； I turned and stole a
look at my cousin。 He had borne this crushing public rebuke
without change of countenance。 He stood； now； very upright； with
folded arms； and looking inscrutably at the roof of the apartment。
I could not refuse him at that moment the tribute of my admiration。
Still more so when； the last of the domestics having filed through
the doorway and left us alone with my great…uncle and the lawyer；
he took one step forward towards the bed； made a dignified
reverence； and addressed the man who had just condemned him to
ruin。
'My lord；' said he； 'you are pleased to treat me in a manner which
my gratitude； and your state； equally forbid me to call in
question。 It will be only necessary for me to call your attention
to the length of time in which I have been taught to regard myself
as your heir。 In that position； I judged it only loyal to permit
myself a certain scale of expenditure。 If I am now to be cut off
with a shilling as the reward of twenty years of service； I shall
be left not only a beggar； but a bankrupt。'
Whether from the fatigue of his recent exertion； or by a well…
inspired ingenuity of hate； my uncle had once more closed his eyes；
nor did he open them now。 'Not with a shilling；' he contented
himself with replying； and there stole； as he said it； a sort of
smile over his face； that flickered there conspicuously for the
least moment of time； and then faded and left behind the old
impenetrable mask of years； cunning； and fatigue。 There could be
no mistake： my uncle enjoyed the situation as he had enjoyed few
things in the last quarter of a century。 The fires of life scarce
survived in that frail body； but hatred； like some immortal
quality； was still erect and unabated。
Nevertheless my cousin persevered。
'I speak at a disadvantage；' he resumed。 'My supplanter； with
perhaps more wisdom than delicacy； remains in the room；' and he
cast a glance at me that might have withered an oak tree。
I was only too willing to withdraw； and Romaine showed as much
alacrity to make way for my departure。 But my uncle was not to be
moved。 In the same breath of a voice； and still without opening
his eyes； he bade me remain。
'It is well；' said Alain。 'I cannot then go on to remind you of
the twenty years that have passed over our heads in England； and
the services I may have rendered you in that time。 It would be a
position too odious。 Your lordship knows me too well to suppose I
could stoop to such ignominy。 I must leave out all my defence …
your lordship wills it so！ I do not know what are my faults； I
know only my punishment； and it is greater than I have the courage
to face。 My uncle； I implore your pity： pardon me so far； do not
send me for life into a debtors' jail … a pauper debtor。'
'CHAT ET VIEUX； PARDONNEZ？' said my uncle； quoting from La
Fontaine； and then； opening a pale…blue eye full on Alain； he
delivered with some emphasis：
'La jeunesse se flatte et croit tout obtenir；
La vieillesse est impitoyable。'
The blood leaped darkly into Alain's face。 He turned to Romaine
and me； and his eyes flashed。
'It is your turn now；' he said。 'At least it shall be prison for
prison with the two viscounts。'
'Not so； Mr。 Alain； by your leave；' said Romaine。 'There are a few
formalities to be considered first。'
But Alain was already striding towards the door。
'Stop a moment； stop a moment！' cried Romaine。 'Remember your own
counsel not to despise an adversary。'
Alain turned。
'If I do not despise I hate you！' he cried； giving a loose to his
passion。 'Be warned of that； both of you。'
'I understand you to threaten Monsieur le Vicomte Anne；' said the
lawyer。 'Do you know； I would not do that。 I am afraid； I am very
much afraid； if you were to do as you propose； you might drive me
into extremes。'
'You have made me a beggar and a bankrupt；' said Alain。 What
extreme is left？'
'I scarce like to put a name upon it in this company；' replied
Romaine。 'But there are worse things than even bankruptcy； and
worse places than