Then the father smiled again, and the lawyer went.

Mr. Scarborough, though he was very strong of heart, did have some
misgivings as the time came at which he was to see his son. The
communication which he had to make was certainly one of vital
importance. His son had some time since instigated him to come to terms
with the "family creditors," as the captain boldly called them.

"Seeing that I never owed a shilling in my life, or my father before me,
it is odd that I should have family creditors," the father had answered.

"The property has, then, at any rate," the son had said, with a scowl.

But that was now twelve months since, before mankind and the Jews among
them had heard of Mr. Scarborough's illness. Now, there could be no
question of dealing on favorable terms with these gentlemen. Mr.
Scarborough was, therefore, aware that the evil thing which he was about
to say to his son would have lost its extreme bitterness. It did not
occur to him that, in making such a revelation as to his son's mother he
would inflict any great grief on his son's heart. To be illegitimate
would be, he thought, nothing unless illegitimacy carried with it loss
of property. He hardly gave weight enough to the feeling that the eldest
son was the eldest son, and too little to the triumph which was present
to his own mind in saving the property for one of the family. Augustus
was but the captain's brother, but he was the old squire's son. The two
brothers had hitherto lived together on fairly good terms, for the
younger had been able to lend money to the elder, and the elder had
found his brother neither severe or exacting. How it might be between
them when their relations with each other should be altogether changed,