When I had done, Canaples muttered an oath of the days of the fourth Henry.
"Ventre St.Gris! Does the dog carry his audacity so far as to dare come betwixt me and my wishes, and to strive against them?
He sought to kill Mancini, eh?
Would to Heaven he had died by the hand of this fellow who shielded the lad!" "Monsieur!" I cried, aghast at so unnatural an expression.
"Pah!" he cried harshly.

"He is my son in name alone, filial he never was." "Nevertheless, Monsieur, he is still your son, your heir." "My heir?
And what, pray, does he inherit?
A title--a barren, landless title! By his shameful conduct he alienated the affection of his uncle, and his uncle has disinherited him in favour of Yvonne.

'T is she who will be mistress of this chateau with its acres of land reaching from here to Blois, and three times as far on the other side.

My brother, sir, was the rich Canaples, the owner of all this, and by his testament I am his heir during my lifetime, the estates going to Yvonne at my death.

So that you see I have naught to leave; but if I had, not a denier should go to my worthless son!" He spread his thin hands before the blaze, and for a moment there was silence.