relationship exists; neither has Mr. Ferguson."

"You have succeeded in duping Mr. Ferguson. You will find it a harder
task to dupe me. If you knew me better, you would have hesitated before
you attempted to humbug me in that barefaced way."

"If you knew me better, Uncle James----"

"I am not your Uncle James."

"Mr. Grey, then. If you knew me better, Mr. Grey, you would know that I
am not capable of making a false claim."

"Oh! no doubt you are very honest--the soul of integrity," sneered
James Grey; "but every one has his price, and, as the success of your
imposture would make you rich for life, you concluded to leave honesty
out of the question."

James Grey might at once have referred to his possession of the paper,
but he could not forbear playing with Gilbert, as a cat with a mouse,
enjoying meanwhile the power which he possessed of crushing his claims
by a single statement.

"Your charge is entirely unjust," said Gilbert, quietly. "I shall
appreciate the money to which I am rightfully entitled, to be sure; but
I want to settle my claim, also, to my father's name, of which I was so
long ignorant."

"If you choose to call yourself Grey, or Green, or Brown, there is no
law to prevent you, I suppose," said Mr. Grey, sarcastically; "but when
you, a street bootblack, try to force your way into a respectable
family, there is considerable to be said."

"I am not ashamed of having been a bootblack," said our hero, calmly.
"I was earning an honest living, though an humble one; and I was not
living upon what belonged to another."

"Do you mean me?" interrupted his uncle, angrily.

"You must decide whether you are meant, Mr. Grey."

"Suppose now I decline to consider seriously this very impudent claim
of yours, what are you going to do about it?"

"I shall take legal advice."

"How do you expect to pay a lawyer?"

"I shall try to manage it."

"No lawyer will undertake such a discreditable case."

"I happen to be acquainted with one lawyer that will. In fact, I have
mentioned the matter to him, and I am acting by his advice now."

"Does he tell you that you have a good case?"

"He does."

"What does he say is the strongest part of it?"

"The statement of Jacob Morton."

"Do you happen to have it with you?"

"No, sir. After the experience of my last call, I prefer not to bring
it."

"You can't produce it," said James Grey, triumphantly.

"Why not?"

"Because you have no such document."