erally with remittances, signed "H. Hogarth."
There had been an annuity paid regularly after she had gone to
Australia; but the last payment had been of a large sum 1,500 pounds
which she had accepted in lieu of all future annual remittances, and
that had been sent more than thirteen years before.

"I was a fool and a idiot to take the money, for it went as fast as my
money always did; but Peck wanted to start in the public line, and
persuaded me to ask for that sum, and then in a year and a half it was
all gone, and I had no annuity to fall back on," said Mrs. Peck.

"Were you married to Peck or to Mrs. Phillips's father?" asked Brandon.

"No, not exactly married. I kept out of bigamy. I always kept that hold
on Cross Hall; I would not marry any one right out, you know."

"He might have had a divorce from you," said Brandon.

"If he had known, perhaps he might; but nobody made it none of their
business to tell him, and I said nothing about it."

"It is rather difficult to tell when you are speaking the truth, and
when you are not," said Brandon; "but I believe that you really are
Elizabeth Ormistown, and I believe also that Francis Hogarth is not the
son of old Cross Hall, as you call him; but I fear you cannot prove it,
and without that the information is of no use to us, and worth no
money."

"If I can prove it, how much is it worth?"

"How much have you had already on the strength of it? You are first
handsomely paid for the lie, and now you want to be bribed into telling
the truth. I myself think 1,000 pounds far too much, for if the case
were taken to court, there would be very heavy law expenses before
possession could be obtained. I offer, on Miss Melville's behalf, a
thousand whenever they get the property."

"Far too little. I'll not speak a word for the chance of a sum like
that; I must have 2,000 pounds. What is 1,000 pounds?"

"Why, at your years, it would buy you a very handsome annuity, or you
could lend it out at interest, and get ten per cent. for it, and have
the principal to leave to any one you liked; or you might start in
business with such a capital. Many handsome fortunes have been made in
Melbourne on a smaller beginning; but if you think it insufficient, I
can go away. My clients are not so very anxious about the property as
to accede to such a demand as yours, and Francis Hogarth may be left in
peaceable possession of the estate," said Brandon, coolly.

"He must not be left with it.