But fury begets fury as love begets love, and in another second Philip felt his own wicked temper boil up within him.  He clenched his teeth and stood firm.

“Do your worst,” he said; “I hate you; I wish to God that you were dead.”

Hardly had these dreadful words left his lips when a change came over the old man’s face; it seemed to stiffen, and putting one hand to his heart he staggered back into his chair, pointing and making signs as he fell towards a little cupboard in the angle of the wall.  His son at once guessed what had happened; his father had got one of the attacks of the heart to which he was subject, and was motioning to him to bring the medicine which he had before shown him, and which alone could save him in these seizures.  Actuated by a common impulse of humanity, Philip for the moment forgot their quarrel, and stepped with all speed to fetch it.  As it happened, there stood beneath this cupboard a table, and on this table lay the document which his father had been reading that afternoon before the arrival of Mr. Bellamy.  It was his will, and, as is usual in the case of such deeds, the date was endorsed upon the back.  All this Philip saw at a single glance, and he also saw that the will was dated some years back, and therefore one under which he would inherit, doubtless the same that his father had some months before offered to show him.

It flashed through his mind that his father had got it out in order to burn it; and this idea was followed by another that for a moment stilled his heart.

“If he should die now he cannot destroy it! If he does not take the medicine he will die.”

Thought flies fast in moments of emergency.  Philip, too, was a man of determined mind where his own interests were concerned, and his blood was heated and his reason blinded by fury and terror.  He was not long in settling on his course of action.  Taking the bottle from the cupboard, he poured out its contents into one of the wine-glasses that stood upon the table, and coming up to his father with it addressed him.  He knew that these attacks, although they were of a nature to cause intense pain, did not rob the sufferer of his senses.  The old man, though he lay before him gasping with agony, was quite in a condition to understand him.

“Listen to me,” he said, in a slow, distinct voice.  “Just now you said that you would disinherit me.  This medicine will save your life, and if I let it fall you will die, and there is no more in the house.  Swear before God that you will not carry out your threat, and I will give it to you.  Lift up your hand to show me that you swear.”

Silence followed, only broken by the gasps of the dying man.

“If you will not swear, I will pour it out before your eyes.”

Again there was silence; but this time the old man made an effort to rise and ring the bell.

His son threw him roughly back.