‘I think I’ve told you,’ Michael resumed at length, steadying his voice, ’that Joseph is my youngest son, and that I had three others.  Three others:  Michael, Edward, and Robert—­all dead.  Edward died when he was a boy of fifteen; Robert was killed on the railway—­he was a porter—­at three-and-twenty.  The eldest went out to Australia; he took a wife there, and had one child; the wife died when they’d been married a year or two, and Michael and his boy were drowned, both together.  I was living with them at the time, as you know.  But what I’ve never spoken of’ Sidney, is that my son had made his fortune.  He left a deal of land, and many thousands of pounds, behind him.  There was no finding any will; a lawyer in the nearest town, a man that had known him a long time, said he felt sure there’d been no will made.  So, as things were, the law gave everything to his father.’

He related it with subdued voice, in a solemn and agitated tone.  The effect of the news upon Sidney was a painful constriction of the heart, a rush of confused thought, an involvement of all his perceptions in a sense of fear.  The pallor of his cheeks and the pained parting of his lips bore witness to how little he was prepared for such a story.

‘I’ve begun with what ought by rights to have come last,’ pursued Michael, after drawing a deep sigh.  ’But it does me good to get it told; it’s been burdening me this long while.  Now you must listen, Sidney, whilst I show you why I’ve kept this a secret.  I’ve no fear but you’ll understand me, though most people wouldn’t.  It’s a secret from everybody except a lawyer in London, who does business for me; a right-hearted man he is, in most things, and I’m glad I met with him, but he doesn’t understand me as you will; he thinks I’m making a mistake.  My son knows nothing about it; at least, it’s my hope and belief he doesn’t.  He told me he hadn’t heard of his brother’s death.  I say I hope he doesn’t know; it isn’t selfishness, that; I needn’t tell you.  I’ve never for a minute thought of myself as a rich man, Sidney; I’ve never thought of the money as my own, never; and if Joseph proves himself honest, I’m ready to give up to him the share of his brother’s property that it seems to me ought to be rightly his, though the law for some reason looks at it in a different way.  I’m ready, but I must know that he’s an honest man; I must prove him first.’

The eagerness of his thought impelled him to repetitions and emphasis.  His voice fell upon a note of feebleness, and with an effort he recovered the tone in which he had begun.

’As soon as I knew that all this wealth had fallen to me I decided at once to come back to England.  What could I do out there?  I decided to come to England, but I couldn’t see farther ahead than that.  I sold all the land; I had the business done for me by that lawyer I spoke of, that had known my son, and he recommended me to a Mr. Percival in London.  I came back, and I found little Jane, and then bit by bit I began to understand what my duty was.  It got clear in my mind; I formed a purpose, a plan, and it’s as strong in me now as ever.  Let me think again for a little, Sidney.  I want to make it as plain to you as it is to me.  You’ll understand me best if I go back and tell you more than I have done yet about my life before I left England.  Let me think a while.’