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           Thosewhoknewthestorygavehimthecoldshoulder;thosewhoknewitnot,seeingonebrotherdisappear,andtheothersucceedintheestate,raisedacryofmurder;sothatuponallsideshefoundhimselfevited.Moneywasallhegotbyhisbargain;well,hecametothinkthemoreofmoney.Hewasselfishwhenhewasyoung,heisselfishnowthatheisold;andthelatterendofalltheseprettymannersandfinefeelingsyouhaveseenforyourself.”

           “Well,sir,”saidI,“andinallthis,whatismyposition?”

           “Theestateisyoursbeyondadoubt,”repliedthelawyer.“Itmattersnothingwhatyourfathersigned,youaretheheirofentail.Butyouruncleisamantofighttheindefensible;anditwouldbelikelyyouridentitythathewouldcallinquestion.Alawsuitisalwaysexpensive,andafamilylawsuitalwaysscandalous;besideswhich,ifanyofyourdoingswithyourfriendMr.Thomsonweretocomeout,wemightfindthatwehadburnedourfingers.Thekidnapping,tobesure,wouldbeacourtcarduponourside,ifwecouldonlyproveit.Butitmaybedifficulttoprove;andmyadvice(uponthewhole)istomakeaveryeasybargainwithyouruncle,perhapsevenleavinghimatShawswherehehastakenrootforaquarterofacentury,andcontentingyourselfinthemeanwhilewithafairprovision.”

           ItoldhimIwasverywillingtobeeasy,andthattocarryfamilyconcernsbeforethepublicwasastepfromwhichIwasnaturallymuchaverse.Inthemeantime(thinkingtomyself)Ibegantoseetheoutlinesofthatschemeonwhichweafterwardsacted.