d to
stopping the income on his nephew's misconduct,--as it appeared to
him,--in a certain particular case. And unfortunately,--though Harry was
prepared to deny that his conduct on that occasion had been subject to
censure,--he could not contradict any of the facts on which Mr. Prosper
had founded his opinion. The story was told in reference to Mountjoy
Scarborough, but not the whole story. "I understand that there was a row
in the streets late at night, at the end of which young Mr. Scarborough
was left as dead under the railings." "Left for dead!" exclaimed Harry.
"Who says that he was left for dead? I did not think him to be dead."

"You had better read it to the end," said his father, and Harry read it.
The letter went on to describe how Mountjoy Scarborough was missed from
his usual haunts, how search was made by the police, how the newspapers
were filled with the strange incident, and how Harry had told nothing of
what had occurred. "But beyond this," the letter went on to say, "he
positively denied, in conversation with the gentleman's brother, that he
had anything to do with the gentleman on the night in question. If this
be so, he absolutely lied. A man who would lie on such an occasion,
knowing himself to have been guilty of having beaten the man in such a
way as to have probably caused his death,--for he had left him for dead
under the railings in a London street and in the midnight hour,--and
would positively assert to the gentleman's brother that he had not seen
the gentleman on the night in question, when he had every reason to
believe that he had killed him,--a deed which might or might not be
murder,--is not fit to be recognized as my heir."

There were other sentences equally long and equally complicated, in all
of which Mr. Prosper strove to tell the story with tragic effect, but
all of which had reference to the same transaction. He said nothing as
to the ultimate destination of the property, nor of his own proposed
marriage. Should he have a son, that son would, of course, have the
property. Should there be no son, Harry must have it, even though his
conduct might have been ever so abominable. To prevent this outrage on
society, his marriage,--with its ordinary results,--would be the only
step. Of that he need say nothing. But the two hundred and fifty pounds
would not be paid after the Christmas quarter, and he must decline for
the future the honor of receiving Mr. Henry Annesley at the Hall.

Ha