Jessop winced, for these words were very pregnant of meaning, and showed only too well the place he would take after his father's death. "There," said his father, pressing his hand, "that is all. I know your nature, boy, so I will not ask you to promise things which you cannot perform. Go now." "Not stay with you, father?" said the young man, speaking for the first time. "No; go now. I've done my duty by you, boy; now go and do yours by your brother. Good-bye, Jessop." There was dead silence, and the old man spoke again as he grasped his son's hand, "Good-bye, Jessop, for the last time." "Good-bye, father," was the reply; and then, with head bent, the young man walked slowly out. "Hah! that's over!" sighed the dying man. "He will not break his heart, Doctor; and if I had left him double, it would do him no good. Now then, Praed, I want to see little Janet. Where is she?" "Downstairs in the drawing-room." "That's right. Go and fetch her. Tell her not to be frightened. She shan't see me die, for it won't be yet." The Doctor left the bedroom, and the old man was alone with his younger son. "Take hold of my hand, Clive. Sit down, my lad. That's right. There, don't look so cut up, my boy. I'm only going to sleep like a man should. It's simply nature; not the horror fanatics teach us. Now I want to talk business to you for a few minutes, and then business and money will be dead to me for ever." "You wish me to do something, father?" "Yes, boy. You will find everything in my will--you and the Doctor. He's a good old friend, and his counsel is worth taking. Marry Janet, and make her a happy wife. She has some weaknesses, but you can mould her, my lad; and it will make her happy, and the Doctor too, for he loves you like a son." "Yes, father." "That's good. You're a fine, strong, clever man, Clive, but that was the dear, good, affectionate boy of twenty years ago speaking. Now then, about money matters. You'll be enormously rich over that mine, so for heaven's sake be a true, just man with it, and do your duty by all the shareholders. Stick to it through thick and thin. I remember all you told me when I recovered from my fit. I could repeat your report. But I was convinced before, when all the London world thought I was getting up a swindle. There! that's enough about the mine--save this. You'll be thinking of sharing with your brother. I forbid it. Keep to your portion as I have left it to you, and do good with it. To give to Jessop is to do evil. I am sorry, but it is the truth. He cannot help it perhaps, but he is not to be trusted, and you are not to league yourself with him in any way. You understand?" "Yes, father!" "I have made him a sufficiently rich man. Let him be content. You are not to trust him. I know Jessop by heart, and I can go from here feeling that I have done my duty by him." At that moment the Doctor returned with his daughter, and the old speculator's face lit up with pleasure.