34/95 Fyne went so far in his display of cynical pessimism as to say that it was extremely probable. But the beastly relative had made up his low mind that it was so. He was selfish and pitiless in his stupidity, but he had clearly conceived the notion of making a claim on de Barral when de Barral came out of prison on the strength of having "looked after" (as he would have himself expressed it) his daughter. He nursed his hopes, such as they were, in secret, and it is to be supposed kept them even from his wife. That belief accounted for his mysterious air while he interfered in favour of the girl. |