'If you do, he'll shoot you like a dog, and it wouldn't be the first time
he handled a pistol. No, no, Master Dick. Whether for better or worse, I
can't tell, but the world is not what it was when I was your age. There's
no provoking a man to a duel nowadays; nor no posting him when he won't
fight. Whether it's your fortune is damaged or your feelings hurt, you must
look to the law to redress you; and to take your cause into your own hands
is to have the whole world against you.'

'And this insult is, then, to be submitted to?'

'It is, first of all, to be ignored. It's the same as if you never heard
it. Just get it out of your head, and listen to what he says. Tom McKeown
is one of the keenest fellows I know; and he has business with men who know
not only what's doing in Downing Street, but what's going to be done there.
Now here's two things that are about to take place: one is the same as
done, for it's all ready prepared--the taking away the landlord's right,
and making the State determine what rent the tenant shall pay, and how long
his tenure will be. The second won't come for two sessions after, but it
will be law all the same. There's to be no primogeniture class at all,
no entail on land, but a subdivision, like in America and, I believe, in
France.'

'I don't believe it, sir. These would amount to a revolution.'

'Well, and why not? Ain't we always going through a sort of mild
revolution? What's parliamentary government but revolution, weakened, if
you like, like watered grog, but the spirit is there all the same. Don't
fancy that, because you can give it a hard name, you can destroy it.
But hear what Tom is coming to. "Be early," says he, "take time by the
forelock: get rid of your entail and get rid of your land. Don't wait till
the Government does both for you, and have to accept whatever condition the
law will cumber you with, but be before them! Get your son to join you
in docking the entail; petition before the court for a sale, yourself or
somebody for you; and wash your hands clean of it all. It's bad property,
in a very ticklish country," says Tom--and he dashes the words--"bad
property in a very ticklish country; and if you take my advice, you'll get
clear of both." You shall read it all yourself by-and-by; I am only giving
you the substance of it, and none of the reasons.'

'This is a question for very grave consideration, to say the least of it.
It is a bold proposal.'

'So it is, and so sa