“I think if I dared to suggest such a thing to him, he would take off my head!” said Rose, with grim humor.

“I think he would if you should do so suddenly or clumsily.  But you must insinuate the idea very slowly and subtlely.  Clarence is not for the works; Clarence is too good for this world—­at least for the business of this world.  I think him half an imbecile!  My father does not hesitate to call him a perfect idiot.  Do you begin to see your way now?  Clarence can be moderately provided for, but should have no share in the North End Works.”

“The North End Works to be left to you solely; Clarence to be moderately provided for; and what of the two children of the late Mrs. Haught?”

“Oh! my father never intends to leave them more than a modest legacy.  They have each inherited money from their father.  No; understand me once for all, Rose.  I must be the sole heir of all my father’s wealth, with the exceptions I have named, and the sole successor to his business, without any exception whatever.  You must live, serve him and bear with him only to obtain such an ascendency over him as to induce him to make such a will as I have dictated to you.  You can do this.  You can insinuate it so subtlely that he will never suspect the suggestion came from you.  I say you can do this, and you must do it.  The woman who could deceive and entrap old Aaron Rockharrt, the Iron King, into matrimony, can do anything else in the world that she pleases to do with him if only she will be as subtle, as patient, and as complacent to him after marriage as she had been before marriage.”

“If Clarence is to be so provided for, Cora and Sylvan to have modest legacies, and you to have the huge bulk of the estate—­where is my third to come from?”

“Why, my dear, I could never let you have so vast a slice out of the mammoth fortune!  Your third of the estate must follow Clarence’s share of the business—­into nothingness.  You must play magnanimity, sacrifice your third, and content yourself with a suitable provision,” said Fabian, equably.

“I will never do that!  I would not do it to save your life, Fabian Rockharrt!”

“Oh, yes, you will, my darling.  Not to save my life, but to save yourself from being denounced to Mr. Rockharrt, and turned out of this house, destitute and degraded.”

“I don’t care if I should be!  Do you think me quite a baby in your hands?  I have been reflecting since you have been talking to me.  I have been remembering that you told me that the law gives the widow one third of her late husband’s property when he dies intestate, and entitles her to it, no matter what sort of a will he makes.”

“Unless there has been a settlement, my angel,” said Mr. Fabian, composedly.