Lord Will was greatly impressed, as may be supposed, by that interview with Mrs. Swinford. When he joined Leo downstairs he had very little to say. He had not the heart to play a game at billiards, but knocked the balls a little vaguely, and took the refreshment which was given to him while he puffed at his cigar. ‘I say, Swinford, your mother and this aunt of mine don’t seem to hit it off,’ he said. ‘Don’t they?’ said Leo. ‘I don’t know, indeed; they were great friends once.’ ‘Which makes women hate each other all the more when they fall out.’ ‘Does it?’ said Leo. ‘You seem to know so much. I am older, but my knowledge is much less.’ ‘By Jove!’ said Lord Will. ‘You ought to have learnt a thing or two,’ and then he became suddenly silent, thinking it would be very difficult if he were called upon to explain himself. Leo did not ask any questions, but he was not indifferent to what his friend said. ‘I think you should not take anybody’s opinion,’ he said. ‘If you want to know about your aunt, go and see her for yourself.’ ‘I’ve done that, thanks to you, Swinford; and I thought her stunning--that’s the truth. But you see there’s money in it, and we’re not to call rich at Pakenham. It would be a deal pleasanter for my father to keep all Uncle John’s money than to divide with a lady who perhaps has no real right. Don’t jump up in that way--I think her stunning. But still you know that’s a very queer story of Mrs. Swinford’s. Uncle Will was no end of a bad old man, I’ve always heard. Why mightn’t he do that as well as the rest?’ ‘I do not know,’ said Leo, who had grown pale, ‘what your respected uncle is supposed to have done. He may have been the greatest reprobate that ever lived; but I do not see how that furthers your case. I presume there must have been two of them before it would do you any good; and the man who will endeavour to cast a blemish upon that lady--well, I may say he will have to do with me first.’ ‘Swinford! for goodness’ sake don’t take up that tone. Why, what have you to do with it? Do you mean to challenge me? These are your French ways--you know as well as I do they’re no go here.’ ‘The more’s the pity, when it is a question of injuring a woman!’ said Leo, whose moustache had taken a warlike twist, and every nerve in his person seemed strung. ‘I don’t want to injure her; but if you think fifty thousand pounds or so--that’s a nice bit of money to hand over for no motive but sheer love of justice--if it should turn out perhaps--’ ‘If what should turn out?’ ‘Well--that perhaps they had no real right. I don’t mean that it would be their fault. She might have been taken in, and never known. I’ve always heard he was a horrible old scamp, up to everything--and would have cheated you as soon as look at you. It would be nothing wonderful if he had cheated a girl who, I suppose, was fond of him. A woman will be fond of anything that notices her, I believe. And fifty thousand pounds is a big bit of money to throw away.’