r. Carlyle, to the
assembly, collectively. "Allow me to request that you leave the house at
once."

It was little likely that they would for him, and they said it.

"Then I warn you of the consequences of a refusal," quietly said Mr.
Carlyle; "you are trespassing upon a stranger's property. This house is
not Lord Mount Severn's; he sold it some time back."

They knew better. Some laughed, and said these tricks were stale.

"Listen, gentlemen," rejoined Mr. Carlyle, in the plain, straightforward
manner that carried its own truth. "To make an assertion that could
be disproved when the earl's affairs come to be investigated, would be
simply foolish. I give you my word of honor as a gentleman--nay, as a
fellow-man--that this estate, with the house and all it contains, passed
months ago, from the hands of Lord Mount Severn; and, during his recent
sojourn here, he was a visitor in it. Go and ask his men of business."

"Who purchased it?" was the inquiry.

"Mr. Carlyle, of West Lynne. Some of you may possibly know him by
reputation."

Some of them did.

"A cute young lawyer," observed a voice; "as his father was before him."

"I am he," proceeded Mr. Carlyle; "and, being a 'cute lawyer,' as you do
me the honor to decide, you cannot suppose I should risk my money upon
any sale not perfectly safe and legal. I was not an agent in the affair;
I employed agents; for it was my own money that I invested, and East
Lynne is mine."

"Is the purchase money paid over?" inquired more than one.

"It was paid over at the time--last June."

"What did Lord Mount Severn do with the money?"

"I do not know," replied Mr. Carlyle. "I am not cognizant of Lord Mount
Severn's private affairs."

Significant murmurs arose. "Strange that the earl should stop two or
three months at a place that wasn't his."

"It may appear so to you, but allow me to explain," returned Mr.
Carlyle. "The earl expressed a wish to pay East Lynne a few days' visit,
by way of farewell, and I acceded. Before the few days were over, he was
taken ill, and remained, from that time, too ill to quit it. This very
day--this day, gentlemen, as we stand here, was at length fixed for his
departure."

"And you tell us you bought the furniture?"

"Everything as it stands. You need not doubt my word, for the proofs
will be forthcoming. East Lynne was in the market for sale; I heard of
it, and became the purchaser--just as I might have bought an estate from
any of you.