"It is not
to be wished he should."
Mr. Graeme returned no answer. Donal resumed.
"I think I ought to let you know at once that you are heir to the
title."
"I think you owe the knowledge to myself!" said the factor, not
without a touch of contempt.
"By no means," rejoined Donal: "on presumption, after lord Forgue,
you told me;--after lord Morven, I tell you."
"I am at a loss to imagine on what you found such a statement," said
Graeme, beginning to suspect insanity.
"Naturally; no one knows it but myself. Lord Morven knows that his
son cannot succeed, but he does not know that you can. I am
prepared, if not to prove, at least to convince you that he and his
son's mother were not married."
Mr. Graeme was for a moment silent. Then he laughed a little
laugh--not a pleasant one. "Another of Time's clownish tricks!" he
said to himself: "the earl the factor on the family-estate!" Donal
did not like the way he took it, but saw how natural it was.
"I hope you have known me long enough," he said, "to believe I have
contrived nothing?"
"Excuse me, Mr. Grant: the whole business looks suspicious. The girl
was dying! You knew it!"
"I do not understand you."
"What did you marry her for?"
"To make her my wife."
"Pray what could be the good of that except--?"
"Does it need any explanation but that we loved each other?"
"You will find it difficult to convince the world that such was your
sole motive.
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