"Why, bless you, Colonel Everard has been dead ever so long, and the Misses Everard are not in the house. My master is Mr. Sleech, the owner of Stanmore. If you want to see him I will take in your name." "Are you mocking me, man?" exclaimed the stranger. "Where are Madam and Miss Everard?" "Why, I rather fancy they have gone to live in the town since they were turned out of this," answered the man, with an impudent look. "Let me see Mr. Sleech immediately, then," said the stranger, entering the house. "I must learn clearly what has taken place without delay. Where is Mr. Sleech?" "Who wants me?" asked a voice from the study, the door of which faced the entrance. The stranger, advancing with rapid step, entered the room. "I am Captain Everard, sir," he said, facing Mr. Sleech, who had risen from his chair with a newspaper in his hand. "Let me know, I entreat you, by what means you have come into possession of Stanmore, and tell me did I hear rightly that my uncle is dead?" "Dead as a door-mat," answered Mr. Sleech, "you may depend on that; and as to how I came into possession of Stanmore, I came in by right of law. I don't want to hurt your feelings, Captain Everard, but you know that legitimacy takes precedence over illegitimacy. It is not a man's fault when his mother has forgotten to get the marriage ceremony performed; but her children have to take the consequences. You understand me, I need not be more explicit." "What do you mean?" exclaimed Captain Everard, leaning on a chair to support himself, for though a strong man, late events had shaken him. He was yet more completely overcome by the news he had just heard. "Mean, sir, that your father, Lieutenant Everard, of the Royal Navy, brother of the late Colonel Everard, and of my beloved and departed wife, was never married to your French mother; no witnesses are to be found, and no documents exist to prove that any such marriage ever took place. By right of law, therefore, when my excellent brother-in-law, Colonel Everard, departed this life, I, as the representative of his sister--he having no direct heir--became possessed of this very fine and beautiful estate. It is not my fault that your father was not married; it is not your fault; nor could I forego the privileges and advantages which accrue from possessing this estate." "You should know, sir, that my father was married. The colonel always believed that he was, and treated me as his heir," answered Captain Everard, with all the calmness he could command. "But, as you say, the law must decide, and if it decide against me, I must submit. You, by some means, have got into possession; I cannot, therefore, turn you out. I can only judge of the way you have treated those dear to me by the manner in which you have received me." The captain drew himself up, and was about to retire from the room.