One other inmate of Ravenshoe must be mentioned—­this was little Mary Corby, who was saved miraculously from the wreck of the Warren Hastings when Charles was about ten.  She was the daughter of Captain Corby, and when the ship went down in fifteen fathoms of water, the mate, assisted by fishermen, and encouraged by Densil, managed to get the little girl to shore, and to Ravenshoe—­for the house was not far from the cliffs.

In spite of Densil’s letters and inquiries, no friends came forward to claim little Mary, then a child of nine, and in three months she was considered as a permanent member of the household.  And the night before Charles went to school he told her of his grand passion for Adelaide.

On the day of the Oxford and Cambridge boat-race, when Charles rowed three in the winning boat, Densil Ravenshoe died, after two days’ illness.  Old James Horton’s death occurred at the same time.  Charles hurried home in time for the funeral, and when all was over a servant came up to him, and asked him would he see Mr. Ravenshoe in the library?  Charles entered the library with William, who had also been sent for.

Charles went up silently and kissed his brother on the forehead.  For a few minutes Cuthbert neither moved nor spoke, while Charles greeted Mackworth civilly.  William stood at a little distance, looking uneasily from one to another.

Cuthbert broke the silence, and as he spoke Charles, by some instinct, laid his hand on William’s shoulder.

“I sent for you,” he said, “on business which must be gone through with, though I expect it will kill me.  I should like to prepare you for what is to come, but the blow would be equally severe whether you expect it or not.  You two who stand there were nursed at the same breast.  That groom on whose shoulder you have your hand now is my real brother; you are no relation to me—­you are the son of the faithful old servant whom we buried to-day with my father!”

Charles at once asked for proofs and witnesses, and Mackworth took up the tale.

“Your mother was Norah, James Horton’s wife.  James Horton was Densil Ravenshoe’s half-brother, and the illegitimate son of Peter.  She confessed to me the wicked fraud she practised, and has committed that confession to paper.  I hold it.  You have not a point of ground to stand on.  You have been living in luxury and receiving an expensive education when you should have been cleaning out the stable.”

Charles’s heart died away within him.

“Cuthbert,” he said, “you are a gentleman.  Is this true?”

“God knows how terribly true it is!” said Cuthbert quietly.

Father Mackworth handed the paper, signed by his mother, to him, and Charles read it.  It was completely conclusive.  William also read it, and turned pale.

Cuthbert spoke again in his quiet, passionless voice.

“My intention,” he said, “is to make a provision of L300 a year for this gentleman, whom till the last few days I believed to be my brother.  Less than twenty-four hours ago, Charles, I offered Father Mackworth L10,000 for this paper, with a view to destroying it.  You see what a poor weak rogue I am, and what a criminal I might become with a little temptation.  Father Mackworth did his duty and refused me!”