“I understand all about it.”

“You will kill yourself if you go on.”

“I don’t mean to go on any farther,—­not as I have done to-day; but as to giving up business, that is rubbish.  I have got my property to manage, and I mean to manage it myself as long as I live.  Unfortunately, there have been accidents which make the management a little rough at times.  I have had one of the rough moments to-day, but they shall not be repeated.  I give you my word for that.  But do not talk to me about giving up my business.  Now I’ll take your tonics, and then would you have the kindness to ask my sister to come to me?”

Miss Scarborough, who was always in waiting on her brother, was at once in the room.  “Martha,” he said, “where is Augustus?”

“I think he has gone out.”

“And where is Mr. Septimus Jones?”

“He is with him, John.  The two are always together.”

“You would not mind giving my compliments to Mr. Jones, and telling him that his bedroom is wanted?”

“His bedroom wanted!  There are lots of bedrooms, and nobody to occupy them.”

“It’s a hint that I want him to go; he’d understand that.”

“Would it not be better to tell Augustus?” asked the lady, doubting much her power to carry out the instructions given to her.

“He would tell Augustus.  It is not, you see, any objection I have to Mr. Jones.  I have not the pleasure of his acquaintance.  He is a most agreeable young man, I’m sure; but I do not care to entertain an agreeable young man without having a word to say on the subject.  Augustus does not think it worth his while even to speak to me about him.  Of course, when I am gone, in a month or so,—­perhaps a week or two,—­he can do as he pleases.”

“Don’t, John!”

“But it is so.  While I live I am master at least of this house.  I cannot see Mr. Jones, and I do not wish to have another quarrel with Augustus.  Mr. Merton says that every time I get angry it gives Sir William another chance with the knife.  I thought that perhaps you could do it.”  Then Miss Scarborough promised that she would do it, and, having her brother’s health very much at heart, she did do it.  Augustus stood smiling while the message was, in fact, conveyed to him, but he made no answer.  When the lady had done he bobbed his head to signify that he acknowledged the receipt of it, and the lady retired.

“I have got my walking-papers,” he said to Septimus Jones ten minutes afterward.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Don’t you?  Then you must be very thick-headed.  My father has sent me word that you are to be turned out.  Of course he means it for me.  He does not wish to give me the power of saying that he sent me away from the house,—­me, whom he has so long endeavored to rob,—­me, to whom he owes so much for taking no steps to punish his fraud.  And he knows that I can take none, because he is on his death-bed.”