Page:Gissing - The Nether World, vol. II, 1889.djvu/106

 my turn now. Thought I’d got money—ha, ha!”

“And so you have,” replied Mrs. Peckover. “We know all about it, so you needn’t try your little game.”

"Know all about it, do you? Well, see here. My brother Mike died out in Australia, and his son died at the same time,—they was drowned. Mike left no will, and his wife was dead before him. What’s the law, eh? Pity you didn’t make sure of that. Why, all his money went to the old man, every cent of it. I’ve no claim on a penny. That’s the law, my pretty dears!"

“He’s a liar!" roared Clem, who at the best of times would have brought small understanding to a legal question. "What did my brother say in his letter?"

“He was told wrong, that’s all, or else he got the idea out of his own head.”

“Then why did they advertise for you?" inquired Mrs. Peckover, keeping perfect command of her temper.

"The old man thought he’d like to find