His favours would cease if I molested him.

'Molested' was the word; it was bread thrown to a dog." VANCE.--"Tut! Only a rich man's eccentricity.

A bachelor, I presume ?" LIONEL.--"My mother says he has been married, and is a widower." VANCE.--"Any children ?" LIONEL.--"My mother says none living; but I know little or nothing about his family." Vance looked with keen scrutiny into the face of his boyfriend, and, after a pause, said, drily,--"Plain as a pikestaff.

Your relation is one of those men who, having no children, suspect and dread the attention of an heir presumptive; and what has made this sting, as you call it, keener to you is--pardon me--is in some silly words of your mother, who, in showing you the letters, has hinted to you that that heir you might be, if you were sufficiently pliant and subservient.

Am I not right ?" Lionel hung his head, without reply.
VANCE (cheeringly).--"So, so; no great harm as yet.