"Eh, what?" said Mr Chester, stopping suddenly, and looking at his companion with an expression of bewilderment. "What do you mean? Can't you speak out? What on earth would you call him?" "A very prudent--scoundrel would be nearer the mark." The effect upon the Squire was electrical. His face became crimson with anger. "Do you know what you are talking about, sir? Anthony Miles a scoundrel! Why, you'll be saying I'm a scoundrel next! Anthony Miles!--a young fellow I've known since he was that high! It's an insult, an insult to us all.--Are you mad, Pitt?" said the Squire, pulling himself up with a sudden attempt at self-control which nearly choked him. "No, I'm not mad, and I know all you have to say against it; but there are such unfortunate things as facts which outweigh everything else in the way of evidence. I've known you longer than you've known him, remember, and I've spoken out because I've heard a rumour that Mr Anthony Miles is desirous of marrying your daughter." Mr Chester stared at him incredulously, and then burst into a laugh. "O, that's one of your facts too, I suppose! Anthony many Winifred! Mercy on us, man, what cock-and-bull stories have you been picking up? Winifred and Anthony? They've played like brother and sister pretty nearly all their lives, and that's enough for the gossips, no doubt. You'd better ask Winifred, and see what she'll say." "It is new to you, then?" "New to me? Ay, as new as it is to them, I'll be bound. I'll tell you what, Pitt, you'd better not let it out, but some sly rascal has been hocusing you, and done it neatly, too, uncommon neatly. Come, come, isn't there a little more as good to tell me?" And the Squire, with all his good-humour restored, walked on, nodding to the children who came running up to make their courtesies. "Well, if that part of my information isn't true, I'm glad of it," said Mr Pitt, coolly. "I told you, if you recollect, that it was no more than a rumour. But as to my opinion of young Miles, I am sorry to say it does not rest upon anything so doubtful." "You had better speak out," said Mr Chester, fuming again, and striding on savagely. It was a very different matter to fall foul of the young man himself, and to hear this said of him in sober earnest, especially when he thought of a grave by which they had stood side by side not very long ago. "I intend to speak out, now I have said so much. All my relations with Mr Anthony Miles date only from one time--" "When he behaved as few young fellows would have behaved," interrupted the Squire warmly. "I hope so, I am sure," said Mr Pitt, pointedly misapplying the words. "You are acquainted with the external features of the case, the bequest to the young man and his own subsequent division of the property?" "I am proud to say I am." "You are also probably aware that there is a granddaughter of Mr Tregennas living, or presumed to be living, for whom he had refused to make any provision whatever?"