The Argosy — page 119: what you’re looking at

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

The Master of Greylanas. 107 Mr. Peter Castlemaine made no rejoinder, and there ensued a silence. In truth, his own difficulties were so weighty, that they kept pressing on his mind throughout in an undercurrent of trouble. “Will you, Uncle Peter, give me some information of the true state of the case?” resumed the young man. ‘I came here, purposely intending toask you. You see, I want to be placed at a certainty, one way oranother. I again repeat, that I am not unreasonable; I only ask to be dealt with fairly and honourably. If Greylands’ Rest is not mine, show me that it is not ; if it is mine, I ought tohave it. Perhaps you will tell me, Uncle Peter, how it was left.” The banker suddenly let drop his seals, with which he had been playing during the last' appeal, and turned his full attention to the speaker, answering in a more frank tone than he had yet spoken. ‘When your father, Basil, went away, he took his full portion with him—a third of the money he would ever inherit. I received my portion ; James received his, Nothing remained but Greylands’ Rest ; and that could be disposed of as your grandfather should please. Does it strike you as any strange thing, Anthony, that he should prefer its passing to the son who was always with him, rather than to the son who had abandoned him and his home, and whom he did not even know to be alive? ” “Uncle Peter, I have said that I see reasons why my grandfather might make his second son his heir, rather than his eldest. If he did so, I am quite ready and willing to accept the fact, once I am con- vinced of it. ZhatI must be. Will you give me the particulars of the bequest? Was the estate devised by will, or by deed of gift ?” “I decline to give you more particulars than I have already given,” was the prompt reply of the banker. ‘‘The affair is not mine; it is my brother James’s. You find him in secure possession of the estate ; you are told that it is his; and that ought to suffice. It 1s a very presumptuous proceeding on the part of Basil’s son, to come over in this extraordinary manner, without warning of any kind, and attempt to question the existing state of things. That is my opinion, Anthony.” ‘‘Ts this your final resolve, Uncle Peter p—not to help me?” “My final, irrevocable resolve.” Anthony took his hat, and put forth his hand. ‘I am very sorry, Uncle Peter. It might have saved so much trouble.” The banker shook hands: but he did not ask him to remain, or to call again. “One hint I will give you, Anthony,” he said. ‘Were you to expend your best years and your best energies upon this search you would be no wiser than you are now. The Castlemaines do not brook interference; neither are their affairs conducted in that loose manner that can afford a possibility of their being inquired into. We know how to hold our own.” ‘¢T am a Castlemaine too, uncle, and can hold my own with the COMIC OOOKS. EO in —_)