"When I remember how easy it was to deceive some really clever men as to the evidence of my marriage--" began Mr. Scarborough. So the squire began, but then stopped himself, with a shrug of his shoulders. Among the really clever men who had been easily deceived Mr. Grey was, if not actually first in importance, foremost, at any rate, in name. "The truth may be ascertained," Mr. Grey repeated, almost with a scowl of anger upon his brow. "Well, yes; I suppose it may. It will be difficult, in opposition to Mr. Samuel Hart." "You must satisfy yourselves, at any rate. These men will know that they have no other hope of getting a shilling." "It is a little hard to make them believe anything," said the squire. "They fancy, you know, that if they could get a hold of Mountjoy, so as to have him in their hands when the breath is out of my body and the bonds are really due, that then it may be made to turn out that he is really the heir." "We know that it is not so," said Mr. Grey. At this Augustus smiled blandly. "We know. But it is what we can make Mr. Samuel Hart know. In truth, Mr. Samuel Hart never allows himself to know anything,--except the amount of money which he may have at his banker's. And it will be difficult to convince Mr. Tyrrwhit. Mr. Tyrrwhit is assured that all of us,--you and I, and Mountjoy and Augustus,--are in a conspiracy to cheat him and the others." "I don't wonder at it," said Mr. Grey. "Perhaps not," continued the squire; "the circumstances, no doubt, are suspicious. But he will have to find out his mistake. Augustus is very anxious to pay these poor men their money. It is a noble feeling on the part of Augustus; you must admit that, Mr. Grey." The irony with which this was said was evident in the squire's face and voice. Augustus only quietly laughed. The attorney sat as firm as death. He was not going to argue with such a statement or to laugh at such a joke. "I suppose it will come to over a hundred thousand pounds." "Eighty thousand, I should think," said Augustus. "The bonds amount to a great deal more than that--twice that." "It is for him to judge," said the squire, "whether he is bound by his honor to pay so large a sum to men whom I do not suppose he loves very well." "The estate can bear it," said Augustus. "Yes, the estate can bear it," said the attorney. "They should be paid what they have expended. That is my idea. Your son thinks that their silence will be worth the money." "What makes you say that?" demanded Augustus. "Just my own opinion." "I look upon it as an insult." "Would you be kind enough to explain to us what is your reason for wishing to do this thing?" asked Mr. Grey. "No, sir; I decline to give any reason. But those which you ascribe to me are insulting." "Will you deny them?"