It is not too much to say that, at the present moment of his life, the idea of doing some injury to Augustus was the one object which exercised Mr. Scarborough’s mind.  Since he had fallen into business relations with his younger son he had become convinced that a more detestable young man did not exist.  The reader will, perhaps, agree with Mr. Scarborough, but it can hardly be hoped that he should entertain the opinion as strongly.

Augustus was now the recognized eldest legitimate son of the squire; and as the property was entailed it must no doubt belong to him.  But the squire was turning in his mind all means of depriving that condition as far as was possible of its glory.  When he had first heard of the injury that had been done to Harry Annesley, he thought that he would leave to our hero all the furniture, all the gems, all the books, all the wine, all the cattle which were accumulated at Tretton.  Augustus should have the bare acres, and still barer house, but nothing else.  In thinking of this he had been actuated by a conviction that it would be useless for him to leave them to Mountjoy.  Whatever might be left to Mountjoy would in fact be left to the creditors; and therefore Harry Annesley with his injuries had been felt to be a proper recipient, not of the squire’s bounty, but of the results of his hatred for his son.

To run counter to the law!  That had ever been the chief object of the squire’s ambition.  To arrange everything so that it should be seen that he had set all laws at defiance!  That had been his great pride.  He had done so notably, and with astonishing astuteness, in reference to his wife and two sons.  But now there had come up a condition of things in which he could again show his cleverness.  Augustus had been most anxious to get up all the post-obit bonds which the creditors held, feeling, as his father well understood, that he would thus prevent them from making any farther inquiry when the squire should have died.  Why should they stir in the matter by going to law when there would be nothing to be gained?  Those bonds had now been redeemed, and were in the possession of Mr. Grey.  They had been bought up nominally by himself, and must be given to him.  Mr. Grey, at any rate, would have the proof that they had been satisfied.  They could not be used again to gratify any spite that Augustus might entertain.  The captain, therefore, could now enjoy any property which might be left to him.  Of course, it would all go to the gaming-table.  It might even yet be better to leave it to Harry Annesley.  But blood was thicker than water,—­though it were but the blood of a bastard.  He would do a good turn for Harry in another way.  All the furniture, and all the gems, and all the money, should again be the future property of Mountjoy.

But in order that this might be effected before he died he must not let the grass grow under his feet.  He thought of the promised three months, with a possible extension to six, as suggested by Sir William.  “Sir William says three months,” he said to Mr. Merton, speaking in the easiest way of the possibility of his living.