The Argosy — page 109: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Master of Greylands. Q7 ‘* Ah then, I daresay that’s the secret of his staying at home to-night,” said Mr. Peter Castlemaine. “Yes, it may be. I did not think of that. And he has also been very much annoyed to-day: and, you know, Peter, if once James is thoroughly put out of temper, it takes some little time to put him in it again.”’ The banker nodded assent. ‘ What has annoyed him ?” ‘‘ A very curious thing,” replied Mrs. Castlemaine: “ you will hardly believe it when I tell you. Some young man ” Breaking off suddenly, she glanced around to make sure that no one was within hearing. Then drawing nearer to the banker, went on in a lowered voice. ‘‘ Some young man presented himself this morning at Greylands’ Rest, pretending to want to put in a claim to the estate.” Abstracted though the banker had been throughout the brief inter- view, these words aroused him to the quick. In one moment, he was the calm, shrewd, attentive business man, Peter Castlemaine, his head erect, his keen eyes observant. “JI do not understand you, Mrs. Castlemaine.” “ Neither do I understand,” she rejoined. ‘ James said just a word or two to me, and I gathered the rest.” ‘Who was the young man ?” : “Flora described him as wearing a coat trimmed with fur; and Miles thought he spoke with somewhat of a foreign accent,” replied Mrs. Castlemaine, deviating unconsciously from the question, as ladies some- times do deviate. “But don’t you know who he was? Did he give no account of himself ? ” : “ He calls himself Anthony Castlemaine.” As the name left her lips, a curious kind of change, as though he were startled, passed momentarily over the banker’s countenance. But he neither stirred nor spoke. ‘“When the card was brought in with that name upon it—James happened to be in the red parlour, talking with me about a new gover- ness—I said it must be an old card of your father’s that somebody had got hold of. But it turned out not to be that. What he wants to make out is, that he is a son of Basil Castlemaine.” ‘*Did James see him ?” “Oh dear yes. Their interview lasted more than an hour.” ‘* And he told James he was Basil’s son?—this young man?” “T think so. At any rate, the young man told Ethel he was. She happened to meet him as he was leaving the house, and he introduced himself to her as Anthony Castlemaine, Basil’s son, and said he had come over to claim his inheritance—Greylands’ Rest.” “ And where's Basil?” asked the banker, after a pause, _. ClOOOkKKS.€O > VOL. XV. H