“Really, Chicknell,” observed the earl, “you seem to be offering imaginary impediments. You must look at this matter from my point of view, not from your own. I suppose you know enough of me――you ought to do so by this time――to be perfectly aware that I am not a man to be dictated to.” “I would not presume to dictate to you,” observed the lawyer. “I tell you that I will, under no circumstances, receive this young woman’s husband here. Let that suffice. It is needless for me to reiterate this.” “Yet you would receive his child?” “He is of my own race, but his father is an alien. The boy has noble blood in his veins――the father has none. The former has a strong claim on me――the latter has none whatever. You must see this; nay, I am sure you do.” “Yes, I can understand that, but――――” “Well, sir, but what?” “For the life of me I cannot see what this young man has done that you should seek, my lord, to tempt from him the wife he loves.” Lord Ethalwood uttered an expression of disgust. “If you are his champion,” he said, bitterly――“if you plead his cause so pertinaciously, in opposition to my expressed wishes, say so at once, and I shall know how to obtain the services of another legal adviser.” “I much regret you should for a moment imagine that I have not your interest at heart. Why should I be the champion of a young fellow whom I have never seen? I have always had the privilege of speaking plainly, and it is not because I have done so in this case that I should merit your censure. However, if you have no confidence in me, my lord, it is competent for you to obtain better advice――or rather advice more in accordance with your own views.” “Pardon me, Chicknell, I have been somewhat hasty. What I said was without due consideration, so let it pass; but you must do your best for me. Of course I have no desire to place the affair in any other hands than yours.” “If you have been hasty, I acknowledge frankly that I have been mistaken.” “In what?” “I thought your delight would have been so great at our success that you would have for the nonce sunk all considerations as to social distinction. I find I am mistaken. I do not wonder at the revolt of the poor against the rich, of the opposition and bitter animosity displayed by one class of the community against another class.” [Sidenote: No. 16.] [Illustration: “YOU COWARDLY SCOUNDREL!” SAID THE NEW-COMER TO PEACE: “HOW DARE YOU STRIKE A WOMAN?”] Lord Ethalwood looked at the speaker in some surprise, but his countenance did not, however, wear an angry expression. “I don’t think,” he observed with a smile, “that we shall agree upon this great social question, and it is therefore idle and useless to discuss it. I have my views, which it would appear are identical with your own. I do not like you any the less for plain speaking; nevertheless my opinion remains unchanged. I will receive my grandchild Aveline and her son, but I will not countenance her husband.”