"Well," said Gault, "this is a wonderful coincidence; it is the most
remarkable thing that I ever knew. The traitor, it seems, is still
in my family, but not on my side of the house. Fortunately for me,
however, I do not share my excellent father-in-law's sentiments on the
subject of 'blood,' and this singular discovery regarding my wife's
great-great-grandfather will not disturb me in the least. Now," he
continued, "this remarkable sequel of a remarkable case is known by you
and me only, and we may as well let it rest here. It would be a terrible
shock to Mr. Crabshaw, with all his proud ideas regarding everything of
this kind, to know that his own daughter was descended from one who had
been an actual traitor, and I shall never inflict the suffering which
such a revelation would cause him. This historic place has given me one
relic which led to all my success, and now I will pay it back with
another relic for which I have no further use."
As he said this he tore into shreds the old commission and threw them
into the ancient cellar.
* * * * *