"I took you to Mowbray Castle, and the cards were in
your own hands if you chose to play them."
"You have interfered with me once before on such a subject.
Lord Marney," said Egremont, with a kindling eye and a cheek
pallid with rage.
"You had better not say that again," said Lord Marney in a
tone of menace.
"Why not?" asked Egremont fiercely. "Who and what are you to
dare to address me thus?"
"I am your elder brother, sir, whose relationship to you is
your only claim to the consideration of society."
"A curse on the society that has fashioned such claims." said
Egremont in an heightened tone--"claims founded in
selfishness, cruelty, and fraud, and leading to
demoralization, misery, and crime."
"Claims which I will make you respect, at least in this house,
sir," said Lord Marney, springing from his chair.
"Touch me at your peril!" exclaimed Egremont, "or I will
forget you are my mother's son, and cleave you to the ground.
You have been the blight of my life; you stole from me my
bride, and now you would rob me of my honour."
"Liar and villain!" exclaimed Lord Marney, darting forward:
but at this moment his wife rushed into the apartment and
clung to him.
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