How the matter would have terminated is doubtful, if Arthur himself had
not appeared upon the scene, calm, dignified, and courtly in his manner,
which insensibly won upon his hearers, as in a few well-chosen and
eloquent words, he proceeded to prove that though he might be peculiar
in some respects, he was not mad, and that a man might repair his own
house, and cut off his own water-pipes, and take up his sewer, and
detect a bad smell, and still not be a subject for a lunatic asylum.
'And,' he continued, addressing his brother, 'it ill becomes you to
take this course against me--you, who have enriched yourself at my
expense, while I have held my peace. Suppose I require you to give an
account of all the money which you have considered necessary for your
support and salary--would you like to do it? Would the world consider
you strictly honorable, or would they call you a lunatic on the subject
of money and not responsible for your acts? But I have no wish to harm
you. I have money enough, and cannot forget that you are my brother. But
molest me, and I shall molest you. If I go to the asylum you will leave
Tracy Park. If I am allowed to stay here in peace, you can do so,
too--at least, until Gretchen comes, when it will, perhaps, be better
for us to separate.
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