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.’