But Miss Marjory paid no heed to him. She had flown back to her former train of thought. ‘Philip Debenham, you must dispute that will. If there is any equity in law, you can get it reversed as easily as possible. There could not be a clearer case of bribery and corruption, or whatever they call it—at least of coercion and fraud. Anyone with half an eye could see exactly how it had all happened. You have as good a case, I should say, as a man could wish. Take counsel’s opinion at once, and act accordingly. I should dispute that will to the death, if I were you.’ ‘There will be no need to do that,’ said Lewis, coming forward and speaking for the first time, ‘for I decline to take advantage of it. I am convinced, like other people, that there is something odd about that condition. Anyway, it is a very unjust one. When the money comes to me, I shall make it over to Maud. I should be ashamed to live upon her fortune.’ Miss Marjory jumped up, and shook him by the hand. ‘Spoken like a man!’ she said with approbation. ‘You are no Belassis, young man, in spite of your name. I have a great respect for your character from this moment.’ ‘No—no, Lewis,’ interposed Maud. ‘The money is yours, and you must have it. I think I am rather glad for you to have something. You must not make it over to me.’ ‘If you do, you idiot of a boy,’ growled Belassis, whose face was purple, ‘I’ll cut you off with a shilling! I’ll turn you out of my house—I’ll make a beggar of you before a week is over!’ ‘I think I’d as soon be a beggar, as loafing round at home doing nothing,’ remarked Lewis slowly. ‘I dare say if I tried I could get some sort of a berth. I’m not such a fool as I look.’ ‘I’ll help you!’ cried Miss Marjory eagerly—‘I’ll stand your friend. I’ll soon find something you can do. I like to see a man who wishes to be independent. Don’t be downhearted. Trust to me.’ ‘And to me,’ said Tor, ‘if you take a step like that. I’ll try to ensure that you never repent it.’ Belassis looked daggers at his son, and would have spoken again, but that his wife, who had crossed the room during the confusion, laid a warning hand upon his arm. ‘Say no more now. Lewis is a mere baby; but he is obstinate, and will only commit himself deeper and deeper if you oppose him now. We will soon take the nonsense out of him when we have him alone.’ ‘He _must_ not do it—it would ruin us!’ gasped Belassis helplessly. ‘He shall not do it. I will take care of it. Now come, don’t give way, or play the fool. Quite enough odium and contempt has fallen to our share to-day, without your adding to the burden by your cowardice. We had better get away as fast as we can, or that hateful little yellow woman will be making fresh discoveries.’ ‘I’m sure I don’t want to stay,’ groaned her husband, with evident sincerity. ‘It’s the most awful evening I’ve ever spent in my life. Let’s get up and go. I’ll tell them that I’ll not stay here to be insulted any longer.’