That one moment of softness, when Lord Radclyffe--a bent and broken old man--went from the library up the stairs to his own room, determined to be alone, and gently removed Luke's affectionate hand from his own bowed shoulders, that one moment of softness was the last that passed between uncle--almost father--and nephew. After that, coldness and cynicism; the same as the old man had meted out to every one around him--save Luke--for years past. Now there was no exception. Coldness and cynicism to all; and to the intruder, the new comer, to Philip de Mountford, an unvarying courtesy and constant deference that at times verged on impassive submission. And the change, I must own, did not come gradually. Have I not said that only a month had gone by, and Arthur's son, from the land of volcanoes and earthquakes, had already conquered all that he had come to seek? He who had been labelled an impostor and a blackmailer took--after that one interview--his place in the old man's mind, if not in his heart. Heaven only knows--for no one else was present at that first interview--what arguments he held, what appeals he made. He came like a thief, bribing his way into his uncle's presence, and stayed like a dearly loved son, a master in the house. And Luke was shut out once and for all from Lord Radclyffe's mind and heart. Can you conceive that such selfless affection as the older man bore to the younger can live for a quarter of a century and die in one hour? Yet so it seemed. Luke was shut out from that innermost recess in Uncle Rad's heart which he had occupied, undisputed, from childhood upward. Now he only took his place amongst the others; with Jim and Edie and Frank, children of the younger brother, of no consequence in the house of the reigning peer. Luke with characteristic pride--characteristic indolence, mayhap, where his own interests were at stake--would not fight for his rightful position--his by right of ages, twenty years of affection, of fidelity, and comradeship. The day following the first momentous interview, Lord Radclyffe spent in lawyers' company--Mr. Davies in Finsbury Court, then Mr. Dobson in Bedford Row. The latter argued and counselled. Though papers might be to all appearances correct and quite in order, there was no hurry to come to a decision. But Lord Radclyffe--with that same dictatorial obstinacy with which he had originally branded the claimant as an impostor and a blackmailer--now clung to his reversed opinion. Convinced--beyond doubt, apparently--that Philip de Mountford was his brother Arthur's son, he insisted on acknowledging him openly as his heir, and on showering on him all those luxuries and privileges which Luke had enjoyed for so many years.