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at it was so." "I do not presume anything of the kind, and never shall. I was an infant and you were a woman,--a woman at that time without many friends, and he thought that he could rob us under cover of the law. Had he been commonly honest it would have been enough for him to know what had been my father's wishes, even if the will had not been rigidly formal. I look upon him as a robber and a thief." "I am sorry for that, Lucius, because I differ from you. What I wish to tell you now is this,--that he is thinking of trying the question again." "What!--thinking of another trial now?" and Lucius Mason pushed his drawings and books from him with a vengeance. "So I am told." "And who told you? I cannot believe it, If he intended anything of the kind I must have been the first person to hear of it. It would be my business now, and you may be sure that he would have taken care to let me know his purpose." And then by degrees she explained to him that the man himself, Mr. Mason of Groby, had as yet declared no such purpose. She had intended to omit all mention of the name of Mr. Dockwrath, but she was unable to do so without seeming to make a mystery with her son. When she came to explain how the rumour had arisen and why she had thought it necessary to tell him this, she was obliged to say that it had all arisen from the wrath of the attorney. "He has been to Groby Park," she said, "and now that he has returned he is spreading this report." "I shall go to him to-morrow," said Lucius, very sternly. "No, no; you must not do that. You must promise me that you will not do that." "But I shall. You cannot suppose that I shall allow such a man as that to tamper with my name without noticing it! It is my business now." "No, Lucius. The attack will be against me rather than you;--that is, if an attack be made. I have told you because I do not like to have a secret from you." "Of course you have told me. If you are attacked who should defend you, if I do not?" "The best defence, indeed the only defence till they take some active step, will be silence. Most probably they will not do anything, and then we can afford to live down such reports as these. You can understand, Lucius, that the matter is grievous enough to me; and I am sure that for my sake you will not make it worse by a personal quarrel with such a man as that." "I shall go to Mr. Furnival," said he, "and ask his advice." "I have done that
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