"
What could be seen of Mr. Fletcher's lips appeared to curl in an odd
smile. "Indeed, I thought it was--or would be--all in the family."
Grant's face grew more stern, and his gray eyes glittered. "You'll find
my status in this matter so far independent that I don't propose,
like Mr. Harcourt, either to begin a suit or to rest quietly under the
calumny. Briefly, Mr. Fletcher, as you or your informant knows, I was
the surveyor who revealed to Mr. Harcourt the value of the land to which
he claimed a title from your man, this Elijah or 'Lige Curtis as you
call him,"--he could not resist this imitation of his adversary's
supercilious affectation of precise nomenclature,--"and it was upon
my representation of its value as an investment that he began the
improvements which have made him wealthy. If this title was fraudulently
obtained, all the facts pertaining to it are sufficiently related to
connect me with the conspiracy."
"Are you not a little hasty in your presumption, Mr. Grant?" said
Fletcher, with unfeigned surprise.
"That is for ME to judge, Mr. Fletcher," returned Grant, haughtily.
"But the name of Professor Grant is known to all California as beyond
the breath of calumny or suspicion."
"It is because of that fact that I propose to keep it so."
"And may I ask in what way you wish me to assist you in so doing?"
"By promptly and publicly retracting in the 'Clarion' every word of this
slander against Harcourt.
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