ristic
insolence he tried to brazen it out.

"Your grounds?" he exclaimed, in virulent scorn. "Your grounds, my lord!
First tell me where I shall find them. You have no grounds. Barminster
Castle is in the hands of a moneylender; these lands, as far as the eye
can reach, are the property of Mr. Harker, the City capitalist, by right
of countless bills and deeds which your precious son has made over to
him."

With an exclamation of pain and astonishment, Adrien gazed on the man
whom he had so loved and trusted. There was no mistaking the bitter
hatred that was in Vermont's tones. At last, his eyes were being opened
to the man's true character.

Lord Barminster regarded him steadily.

"You're mad!" he said quietly.

"Oh, no, no!" laughed Vermont. "It is not I who am mad, but you, who
foolishly handed over your wealth to your son before it was his by
right. You should have let him wait till death had removed you, before
you gave him full power over Barminster. Such lavish expenditure as his
would empty the coffers of a nation. His folly has melted every stone of
your precious Castle in the cup of pleasure, and has poured out the
costly draught at the feet of his friends and parasites. Friends? He has
never had any--leeches, perhaps, who have sucked him dry of all his
possessions, and then deserted him."

"Speak for yourself, you cur." cried Shelton, "since it is you, and your
dishonest management of his estates, that have brought him to this
pass."

Jasper smiled sardonically.

"Say rather that it is I who have constantly warned him against every
fresh extravagance, knowing full well what must happen. Ask him
yourself, if you doubt my word; ask him whether I have not implored him,
time and time again, to relinquish at least some of his many ruinous
pleasures and follies; to deny himself at least one expenditure."

Adrien turned his dark eyes to his father's stern face.

"Sir," he said gently, "I really do not see why this scene should
continue. If any explanations are necessary, Mr. Vermont shall give them
to me."

Vermont turned away with a scornful laugh, but Shelton grasped his arm.

"One minute," he said, "before you sneak away."

"Keep your hands off me, you moneyed fool," cried Vermont, wrenching
himself free from the other's grasp. "I know nothing about this City
business, you must apply to Harker himself. It is your name that is
forged, not mine--though I suppose you want to screen the real criminal