How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
'…but here: I heard a rumor somewhere that they were brothers. Crosbie Wells and Carver. It might only be a figure of speech, as you put it, but I wanted to make sure' (I.11.40).
And this is where Devlin asks Te Rau directly whether he knows of any literal brotherly connection between Wells and Carver, since Lauderback had believed that Carver and Wells might have been half-siblings.
Quote #8
'Sir you are my brother though you do not know me. Your father sired a bastard I am that bastard' (II.9.17).
Whoa. Well, this is a wrinkle: Crosbie Wells wrote to Lauderback letting him know that they were, in fact, half-brothers. Walter Moody found the letter with this intel in a crate that was mistakenly delivered to his room.
Quote #9
'Poor Mr. Lauderback,' she said again.
'He made his own bed,' said Carver, watching her.
'Yes, he did; but you and I warmed the sheets for him.'
'Don't feel sorry for a coward,' said Carver. 'Least of all a coward with money to spare.'
'I pity him.'
'Why? Because of the bastard? I'd sooner feel sorry for the bastard. Lauderback's had nothing but good luck from start to finish. He's a made man.'
'He is; and yet he is pitiable. He is so ashamed, Francis. Of Crosbie, of his father, of himself. I cannot help but feel pity for a man who is ashamed' (IV.7.14-20).
We don't ever really find out from the horse's mouth what Lauderback made of having a half-brother—every conversation he had on the topic or opinion he might have had is filtered through someone else's thoughts or conversation. According to Lydia, he was pretty darn ashamed of it, since his father had sired Crosbie with a prostitute. We do know, however, that Lauderback was finally going to visit Crosbie on the night of Crosbie's death…and apparently didn't make it in time.