"'Tis strange--something in the Baskerville character that draws her--but so it is," continued the master of Cadworthy, ignoring his brother's last remark. "In a word, when he found she was free, my Ned took up with Cora Lintern, and she's going to marry him. But 'tis to be a full year from this sad Christmas--I bargained for that and will have it so." "'Going to take him'? Going to take your son!" cried the other. "She is; and I sanction it; for I found her a very different maiden to what you did." "Going to marry Ned! Going from my Mark to your Ned!" "'Twas settled some time ago. Mark knew it, for I myself let it out to him when I met him one day in North Wood. 'Twas but two days afore his last breath, poor fellow. Of course, I thought that he knew all about it, and as it was understood that he had got over his loss very bravely and was cheerful and happy as usual again, I made nothing of the matter, thinking that was the best way to take it." Humphrey stared at him. "Go on--you're letting in the light," he said. "That's all--all save this. When I told Mark that Cora was going to wed his cousin, I saw by his face 'twas news for him. His colour faded away. Then I knew that he hadn't heard about it. Accident had kept it from him till the matter was a week old." "And he said----?" "He just said something stammering like. He was a bit of a kick-hammer in his speech sometimes--nothing to name; but it would overtake him now and again if he was very much excited. I didn't catch just what the words were--something about one of the family having her, I think 'twas." "Then he went and killed himself, and not till then. So 'twas your son after all as settled him--don't roar me down, for I'll be heard. Your son--all his work! He plotted and planned it. And lazy I thought him! And I might have known there's no such thing as laziness of mind and body both. Busy as a bee damning himself--damning himself, I tell you! A shifty traitor, a man to stab other men in the back, a knave and the vilest thing that ever bore our name. And you know it--you know it as well as I do." "By God! this is too much," shouted out Vivian, rising to his feet and towering over the crouching figure opposite him. "What are you made of to say such vile things of an innocent man? You see life all awry; you see----