urther."

"You would rather put Percival into the position then?"

"Of course. He would fill it worthily. The other wouldn't."

"I don't know about that. I am perfectly certain about one thing, and
that is that Percival himself would never accept it at the expense of
his cousin, if he knew he was to do so. That boy has a rarely
chivalrous soul, and he used almost to worship Hilary."

"Pooh! That wouldn't go so far as to make him deliberately choose to be
left nearly a pauper in order to benefit the other," sneered Sir Luke.
But he was a man who did not sneer well. It was not natural to him to
sneer at all--therefore his sneer was not convincing.

"I don't agree with you, Canterby. I believe he would. There are some
few natures like that, thank Heaven, although it must be conceded they
are marvellously scarce. But he need not `be left a pauper'--though
that of course rests with you--and that without doing the other any
injustice--and yourself too. For you know as well as I do, Luke, that
Hilary holds and always will hold the first place in your heart."

"And the same holds good of Percy in regard to yours, eh, Canon? Yet
you are arguing against him for all you know how."

"I am arguing against you, not against him. You invited remark upon the
contents of this document, Luke, and asked me to advise you, and I have
done my best to comply with both desires. Don't be in a hurry to commit
an act of injustice which you yourself may bitterly repent when it is
too late, and past remedying. You are at present sore and vindictive
against Hilary, but you know perfectly well in your heart of hearts that
he is to you as your own and only son. Stretch out a hand of blessing
over him from beyond the grave, not one of wrath and retribution and
judgment."

"It isn't that, you know," urged Sir Luke, rather feebly. "My reasons
are different. I don't want him to come here and play ducks and drakes
with what I have taken a lifetime to build up--and not easily either--
and to bring scandal on my name and memory. That's what it amounts to."

"That's what you are trying to persuade yourself into thinking it
amounts to, but you can't humbug me, old friend. My advice to you
therefore is to lock that draft away, or better still, put it in the
fire, and leave things as they are."

"You mean with Hilary as my heir?"

"Just that. I have, however, a suggestion to append. Find out Hilary;
not necessarily directly, but f