He was scarcely capable of speech. He found himself
wondering idly how heinous a crime a man must commit to be branded
ineligible.
"To explain this to you," Brooks continued, "I am bound to tell you
something which is only known to two people in the country. The Marquis
of Arranmore is my father."
Mr. Bullsom dropped his cigar from between his fingers, and it lay for
a moment smouldering upon the carpet. His face was a picture of blank
and hopeless astonishment.
"God bless my soul!" he exclaimed, faintly. "You mean that you--you,
Kingston Brooks, the lawyer, are Lord Arranmore's son?"
Brooks nodded.
"Yes! It's not a pleasant story. My father deserted my mother when I
was a child, and she died in his absence. A few months ago, Lord
Arranmore, in a leisurely sort of way, thought well to find me out, and
after treating me as an acquaintance for some time--a sort of
probationary period, I suppose--he told me the truth. That is the
reason of my resigning from the firm of Morrison and Brooks almost as
soon as the partnership deed was signed. I went to see Mr.
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