East Lynne," good-naturedly observed Mr. Carlyle.
"Nobody would think of looking for him there. I think it is a pity that
you should not meet, if you do feel inclined to help him."

"You are a deal more considerate to him than he deserves, Mr. Carlyle.
May I ask if you intend to act for him in a professional capacity?"

"I do not."

A few more words, and it was decided that Captain Levison should be
immediately sent for. As Mr. Carlyle left Sir Peter's presence, he
encountered Lady Levison.

"I can scarcely be ignorant that your conference with my husband has
reference to his grandnephew," she observed.

"It has," replied Mr. Carlyle.

"I have had a very bad opinion of him, Mr. Carlyle; at the same time I
do not wish you to carry away a wrong impression of me. Francis Levison
is my husband's nephew, his presumptive heir; it may, therefore, appear
strange that I set my face against him. Two or three years ago, previous
to my marriage with Sir Peter, in fact before I knew Sir Peter, I was
brought into contact with Francis Levison. He got acquainted with some
friends of mine, and at their house I met him. He behaved shamefully
ill; he repaid their hospitality with gross ingratitude; other details
and facts regarding his conduct also became known to me. Altogether
I believe him to be a base and despicable man, both by nature and
inclination, and that he will remain such to the end of time."

"I know very little indeed of him," observed Mr. Carlyle. "May I inquire
the nature of his ill-conduct in that instance?"

"He ruined them--he ruined them, Mr. Carlyle. They were simple,
unsuspicious country people, understanding neither fraud nor vice, nor
the ways of an evil world. Francis Levison got them to put their names
to bills, 'as a matter of form, to accommodate him for a month or so,'
he stated, and so they believed. They were not wealthy; they lived
upon their own small estate, with none too much of superfluous money
to spare, and when the time came for them to pay--as come it did--it
brought ruin, and they had to leave their home. He deliberately did
it--knowing what would be the end. And I could tell you of other things.
Sir Peter may have informed you that I object to receive him here. I do.
My objection is to the man--to his character; not owing, as I hear it
has been said, to any jealous paltry feeling touching his being the
heir. I must lose my own self-respect before I admit Francis Levison to
my house as a