And now, what is left save the shell of the old house, and an estate burdened and impoverished well-nigh beyond the power of redemption?" He heaved a great sigh, looking cunningly at the young man out of the corners of his ferret-like eyes. Grey’s glance was stern and direct. His words were quietly and coldly spoken. "We will see about that. I am here to take up my burden. I will learn whether or not Hartsbourne be past redemption." "You!" cried ’Mr. Dumaresq quickly; "and pray what can you do?" "I can live here quietly, and see what can be done towards retrieving the past. Even if I toil with my own hands, I shall think it no shame, if it be for the home of my forefathers." "You live here!" sneered the other, seeking to mask the sneer by a smile; "and by what right will you do that, pray?" "I am the owner," answered Grey proudly. "I presume that I have the right to live in my own house, and to administer such revenues as may be left to the estate?" "Oh yes, fair kinsman, so soon as the mortgages be paid. I will get them out for your high mightiness to examine. Pay them off, and house and manor are yours to do with as you will. But till that time come, I, and not you, am master here. The revenues are mine; the house I have the right to occupy, to the exclusion of any other. It is all writ fair to see—signed and sealed. Will you see the papers for yourself? They will make pleasant study for a summer morning." "I will look at the papers anon," answered Grey quietly; "but first I would know from you what it all means. It is you, not I, to whom Hartsbourne belongs, then? You are the master, and I am the guest?" "For the present, yes; but a welcome guest, none the less," spoke the older man with a repulsive leer. "The situation, my bold young cousin, is easily understood. Your father loved not the old family house. I did love it. Could he have sold it, it would have been mine long since; but he had not the power to alienate it from the title. But he did all else that was possible. He raised mortgage upon mortgage upon it—first on the house, then on the land. I came to live in the house, and paid him rent for it once. Then I supplied him with money and took up the mortgages. He and I had been boys together. The tie between us was strong. I verily believe he was glad to have me here, and when he was sick and smitten with mortal disease he came hither to die, and I was with him to the last. He was grateful for my devoted service. He was glad to think that I should live on here afterwards. ’It is no life for a young man,’ he said almost at the last. ’Grey will carve out a career for himself. Here he could only rot and starve like a rat in a hole.’ And I pointed out that you were my natural heir, and that you might not have very long to wait before coming a second time into your inheritance."