Wilkie Collins

“ An eccentric philosopher is as capable as the most commonplace human being in existence of behaving like an honourable man. Mr. Dunboyne read the letter which bore the Minister’s signature, and handed it to his son. “Can you answer that?” was all he said. Philip’s silence confessed that he was unable to answer it—and Philip himself, I may add, rose accordingly in my estimation. ”

“ All that I had found perplexing in Eunice was now made clear. I understood how her agony at the loss of her lover, and her keen sense of the wrong that she had suffered, had been strengthened in their disastrous influence by her experiment on the sleeping draught intended for her father. In mind and body, both, the poor girl was in the condition which offered its opportunity to the lurking hereditary taint. ”

“ At the age which this young man has reached, the laws of England abolish the authority of his father. If he is sufficiently infatuated to place his honour and his happiness at the mercy of a lady, who has behaved to her sister as your daughter has behaved to Miss Eunice, I warn the married couple not to expect a farthing of my money, either during my lifetime or after my death. Your faithful servant, Dunboyne, Senior.” Having performed his duty as secretary, Philip received his dismissal: “You may send my reply to the post,” his father said ”