"The property comes to me," he said, beaming with self-satisfaction. "There isn't the least doubt about it."
"So I gather after reading that will," answered Rupert calmly. "John Hendle certainly left everything to Eunice and her descendants. Frederick was illegally in possession of the property."
"And it follows that _you_ are illegally in possession."
"I admit that. But of course as the younger branch, represented by me, has been in possession of the estates for nearly one hundred years, it is quite within my rights to take advantage of the Statute of Limitations."
"Oh, no, you shan't," said Mallien, rolling up the will and thrusting it into his desk, "I am not going to be done out of my rights."
"Am I the man to try and do you out of them?"
"Yes, you are," retorted the other unjustly, "since you talk about this Statute of Limitations."
"Why should I not take advantage of the Statute, when I run a chance of being made a pauper, and not through my own fault?"
"Because it isn't honest," said Mallien virtuously. "You and yours have been wrongfully in possession of what belongs to me. I'm going to have my own, if I spend the last sixpence in the law-courts. I thought you were honourable, Rupert, yet here you talk of putting me to a lot of expense to get my own estates."
Hendle stared at the greedy heir, for such selfishness in taking advantage of an innocent person's misfortune was inconceivable to him. But he knew only too well that argument was useless. Mallien could only see things in his own way, and did not care who suffered so long as he benefited. However, he made one effort "Put yourself in my place, Mallien," he remarked mildly. "Would you surrender everything without a struggle?"
"That is not the question," retorted Mallien, evading a reply after his usual fashion. "The property is mine, and I intend to have it. I shall keep the will, as it is not safe in your hands."
"You would benefit too much by its destruction."
Rupert laughed. "I could have destroyed it while it was in my possession and without your knowing anything about it. Instead of doing so, I have brought it to you. Does that look like dishonesty on my part?"
"You bring it to me because you are aware that I know all about it," said Mallien doggedly. "Mrs. Beatson told me about the will, as you know. If she hadn't, you would have thrown it into the fire."