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〃A moment； sir；〃 exclaimed the earl； with reserve； not to say hauteur in his tone； for his suspicions were gaining ground； 〃are we to converse confidentially together； as men of honor； or is there something concealed behind？〃
〃I do not understand you；〃 said Mr。 Carlyle。
〃In a wordexcuse my speaking plainly； but I must feel my groundare you here on the part of some of my rascally creditors； to pump information out of me； that otherwise they would not get？〃
〃My lord；〃 uttered the visitor； 〃I should be incapable of so dishonorable an action。 I know that a lawyer gets credit for possessing but lax notions on the score of honor； but you can scarcely suspect that I should be guilty of underhand work toward you。 I never was guilty of a mean trick in my life； to my recollection； and I do not think I ever shall be。〃
〃Pardon me； Mr。 Carlyle。 If you knew half the tricks and /ruses/ played upon me； you would not wonder at my suspecting all the world。 Proceed with your business。〃
〃I heard that East Lynne was for private sale； your agent dropped half a word to me in confidence。 If so； I should wish to be the purchaser。〃
〃For whom？〃 inquired the earl。
〃Myself。〃
〃You！〃 laughed the earl。 〃Egad！ Lawyering can't be such bad work； Carlyle。〃
〃Nor is it；〃 rejoined Mr。 Carlyle； 〃with an extensive； first…class connection； such as ours。 But you must remember that a good fortune was left me by my uncle； and a large one by my father。〃
〃I know。 The proceeds of lawyering also。〃
〃Not altogether。 My mother brought a fortune on her marriage； and it enabled my father to speculate successfully。 I have been looking out for an eligible property to invest my money upon； and East Lynne will suit me well； provided I can have the refusal of it； and we can agree about the terms。〃
Lord Mount Severn mused for a few moments before he spoke。 〃Mr。 Carlyle；〃 he began； 〃my affairs are very bad； and ready money I must find somewhere。 Now East Lynne is not entailed； neither is it mortgaged to anything like its value； though the latter fact； as you may imagine； is not patent to the world。 When I bought it at a bargain； eighteen years ago； you were the lawyer on the other side； I remember。〃
〃My father；〃 smiled Mr。 Carlyle。 〃I was a child at the time。〃
〃Of course； I ought to have said your father。 By selling East Lynne； a few thousands will come into my hands； after claims on it are settled； I have no other means of raising the wind； and that is why I have resolved to part with it。 But now； understand； if it were known abroad that East Lynne is going from me； I should have a hornet's nest about my ears； so that it must be disposed of /privately/。 Do you comprehend？〃
〃Perfectly；〃 replied Mr。 Carlyle。
〃I would as soon you bought it as anyone else； if； as you say； we can agree about terms。〃
〃What does your lordship expect for itat a rough estimate？〃
〃For particulars I must refer you to my men of business； Warburton & Ware。 Not less than seventy thousand pounds。〃
〃Too much； my lord；〃 cried Mr。 Carlyle； decisively。
〃And that's not its value；〃 returned the earl。
〃These forced sales never do fetch their value；〃 answered the plain… speaking lawyer。 〃Until this hint was given me by Beauchamp； I had thought East Lynne was settled upon your lordship's daughter。〃
〃There's nothing settled on her；〃 rejoined the earl； the contraction on his brow standing out more plainly。 〃That comes of your thoughtless runaway marriages。 I fell in love with General Conway's daughter； and she ran away with me； like a fool； that is； we were both fools together for our pains。 The general objected to me and said I must sow my wild oats before he would give me Mary； so I took her to Gretna Green； and she became Countess of Mount Severn； without a settlement。 It was an unfortunate affair； taking one thing with another。 When her elopement was made known to the general； it killed him。〃
〃Killed him！〃 interrupted Mr。 Carlyle。
〃It did。 He had disease of the heart； and the excitement brought on the crisis。 My poor wife never was happy from that hour； she blamed herself for her father's death； and I believe it led to her own。 She was ill for years； the doctors called it consumption； but it was more like a wasting insensibly away； and consumption never had been in her family。 No luck ever attends runaway marriages； I have noticed it since； in many； many instances； something bad is sure to turn up from it。〃
〃There might have been a settlement executed after the marriage；〃 observed Mr。 Carlyle； for the earl had stopped； and seemed lost in thought。
〃I know there might； but there was not。 My wife had possessed no fortune； I was already deep in my career of extravagance； and neither of us thought of making provision for our future children； or； if we thought of it； we did not do it。 There is an old saying； Mr。 Carlyle； that what may be done at any time is never done。〃
Mr。 Carlyle bowed。
〃So my child is portionless；〃 resumed the earl； with a suppressed sigh。 〃The thought that it may be an embarrassing thing for her； were I to die before she is settled in life； crosses my mind when I am in a serious mood。 That she will marry well； there is little doubt； for she possesses beauty in a rare degree； and has been reared as an English girl should be； not to frivolity and foppery。 She was trained by her mother； who save for the mad act she was persuaded into by me； was all goodness and refinement； for the first twelve years of her life； and since then by an admirable governess。 No fear that she will be decamping to Gretna Green。〃
〃She was a very lovely child；〃 observed the lawyer； 〃I remember that。〃
〃Ay； you have seen her at East Lynne； in her mother's lifetime。 But； to return to business。 If you become the purchaser of the East Lynne estate； Mr。 Carlyle； it must be under the rose。 The money that it brings； after paying off the mortgage； I must have； as I tell you； for my private use； and you know I should not be able to touch a farthing of it if the confounded public got an inkling of the transfer。 In the eyes of the world； the proprietor of East Lynne must be Lord Mount Severnat least for some little time afterwards。 Perhaps you will not object to that。〃
Mr。 Carlyle considered before replying； and then the conversation was resumed； when it was decided that he should see Warburton and Ware the first thing in the morning； and confer with them。 It was growing late when he rose to leave。
〃Stay and dine with me；〃 said the earl。
Mr。 Carlyle hesitated； and looked down at his dressa plain； gentlemanly； morning attire； but certainly not a dinner costume for a peer's table。
〃Oh； that's nothing；〃 said the earl； 〃we shall be quite alone； except my daughter。 Mrs。 Vane； of Castle Marling； is staying with us。 She came up to present my child at the last drawing…room； but I think I heard something about her dining out to…day。 If not； we will have it by ourselves here。 Oblige me by touching the bell； Mr。 Carlyle。〃
The servant entered。
〃Inquire whether Mrs。 Vane dines at home；〃 said the earl。
〃Mrs。 Vane dines out； my lord；〃 was the man's immediate reply。 〃The carriage is at the door now。〃
〃Very well。 Mr。 Carlyle remains。〃
At seven o'clock t