The proud clear voice trembled, and Beryl covered her face with her hands.

“Then we will ignore outraged ties of blood, and treat on the ground of mere humanity?  Let me conclude, for it is sickening and loathsome to a man of my age, to see his long silent household graves yawn, and give up uncalled—­their sheeted dead.  For some years the money sent, was a quietus, and I was left in peace.  I was lonely; it was, hard work to forget, because I could never forgive; and the more desolate the gray ruin, the more nature yearns to cover it close with vines and flowers; so after a time, I married a gentle, pure hearted woman, who made the best of what was left of me.  We had no children, but she had one son of a former marriage, who proved a noble trustworthy boy; and by degrees he crept into my heart, and raked together the cinders of my dead affections, and kindled a feeble flame that warmed my shivering old age.  When I felt assured that I was not thawing another serpent to sting me for my pains, I adopted Thorton Prince, and with the aid of a Legislative enactment, changed his name to Prince Darrington.  Only a few months elapsed, before his mother, of whom I was very fond, died of consumption and my boy and I comforted each other.  Then I made my second and last will, and took every possible precaution to secure my estate of every description to him.  He is my sole heir, and I intend that at my death he shall receive every cent I possess.  Did you know this?”

“I did, because your last endorsement on a letter of my mother’s returned unopened to her, informed her of the fact.”

“Why?  Because in violation of my wishes she had persisted in writing, and soon began to importune me for money.  Then I made her understand that even at my death, she would receive no aid; and since that endorsement, I have returned or destroyed her letters unread.  My Will is so strong—­has been drawn so carefully—­that no contest can touch it; and it will stand forever between your mother and my property.”

As he uttered these words, he elevated his voice, which had a ring of savage triumph in its harsh excited tones.  Just then, a muffled sound attracted his attention, and seizing his gold-headed cane, he limped with evident pain to the threshold of the adjoining room.

“Bedney.”

Receiving no reply, he closed the door with a violence that jarred the whole room; and came slowly back to the table, where he stood leaning heavily on his stick.

“At least we will have no eavesdropping at this resurrection of my dead.  That Ellice is now a miserable woman, I have no doubt; for truly:  ‘Quien se casa por amores, ha de vivir con dolores.’  Of course you understand Spanish?”

“No, sir; but no matter; I take it for granted that you intend some thrust at my mother, and I have heard quite enough.”