"No, I do not care for that, and yet----"

"That is your last resource, Marquis. First, then, we could lay a plaint
before the court."

"A plaint?"

"Certainly. Do you suppose that our laws do not provide for such a case
as a father exceeding the proper bounds of parental authority? Tell me,
has the Duke, your father, ever struck you?"

"Never once."

"Well, that is almost a pity. We will say that your father's property
is worth two millions, and yet you derive so slight a benefit from this
that you are known everywhere as the 'Young Savage of Champdoce'!"

Norbert started to his feet.

"Who dares speak of me like that?" said he furiously. "Tell me his
name."

This outburst of passion did not in the smallest degree discompose
Daumon.

"Your father has many enemies, Marquis," he resumed, "for his manners
are overbearing and exacting; but you have many friends, and among
them all you will find none more devoted than myself, humble though my
position may be. Many ladies of high rank take a great interest in you.
Only a day or two ago some persons were speaking of you in the presence