"Expediency, of course, and be like the rest of mankind." He put on a look of bitter humor.

"It is all easy enough for you, Mr.Frowenfeld, my-de'-seh; you have the easy part--the theorizing." He saw the ungenerousness of his speech as soon as it was uttered, yet he did not modify it.
"True, Mr.Grandissime," said Frowenfeld; and after a pause--"but you have the noble part--the doing." "Ah, my-de'-seh!" exclaimed Honore; "the noble part! There is the bitterness of the draught! The opportunity to act is pushed upon me, but the opportunity to act nobly has passed by." He again drew his chair closer, glanced behind him and spoke low: "Because for years I have had a kind of custody of all my kinsmen's property interests, Agricola's among them, it is supposed that he has always kept the plantation of Aurore Nancanou (or rather of Clotilde--who, you know, by our laws is the real heir).

That is a mistake.

Explain it as you please, call it remorse, pride, love--what you like--while I was in France and he was managing my mother's business, unknown to me he gave me that plantation.

When I succeeded him I found it and all its revenues kept distinct--as was but proper--from all other accounts, and belonging to me.