Eighth Scene: The Library
The next day Sir Joseph Graybrooke, Sir Joseph's lawyer, Mr. Dicas (highly
respectable and immensely rich), and Richard Turlington were assembled in the
library at Muswell Hill, to discuss the question of Natalie's marriage settlement.
After the usual preliminary phrases had been exchanged, Sir Joseph showed
some hesitation in openly approaching the question which the little party of three
had met to debate. He avoided his lawyer's eye; and he looked at Turlington
"Richard," he began at last, "when I spoke to you about your marriage, on board
the yacht, I said I would give my daughter--" Either his courage or his breath
failed him at that point. He was obliged to wait a moment before he could go on.
"I said I would give my daughter half my fortune on her marriage," he resumed.
"Forgive me, Richard. I can't do it!"
Mr. Dicas, waiting for his instructions, laid down his pen and looked at Sir
Joseph's son-in-law elect. What would Mr. Turlington say?
He said nothing. Sitting opposite the window, he rose when Sir Joseph spoke,
and placed himself at the other side of the table, with his back to the light.
"My eyes are weak this morning," he said, in an unnaturally low tone of voice.
He could find no more plausible excuse than that for concealing his face in
shadow from the scrutiny of the two men on either side of him. The continuous
moral irritation of his unhappy courtship--a courtship which had never advanced
beyond the frigid familiarity of kissing Natalie's hand in the presence of others--
had physically deteriorated him. Even his hardy nerves began to feel the long
strain of suspicion that had been laid unremittingly on them for weeks past. His
