brought in, and every attempt at resuscitation was useless.
He had died, and was judged; may he have found pardon! Some thought
that he had hung himself intentionally, so completely had the noose
clasped his neck; others, among whom were Pigtop, thought differently.
The old sailor was of opinion, from the broken boards that had given way
beneath his feet, that, when he had got the noose below his chin, and no
lower, his footing or the scaffolding had failed him; and that, letting
go the other end of the rope, it had taken a half hitch, and thus jammed
upon the cross-pole. However the operation was brought about, he was
exceeding well hung, and the drop represented to perfection. As Pigtop
had prophesied, the post-chaise in the shrubbery was turned into a
hearse, in order to convey his body to the inn for the coroner's
inquest.

"I knew I should live to see him hung," said Pigtop, doggedly, as he
bade me good-night, when we both turned into our respective rooms for
the night, in the house of my father.

Contrary to all expectations, the shock, instead of destroying, seemed
to have the effect of causing Sir Reginald to rally. He lived for six
months after, became fully satisfied of my identity; and just as he was
beginning to taste of happiness in the duty and affection of his son, he
died, having first taken every legal precaution to secure me the quiet
possession of my large inheritance.

My grief at his decease was neither violent nor prolonged. After his
burial, I was on the point of repairing the old mansion, when I found
myself involved in three lawsuits, which challenged my right to it all.
I soon came to a determination as to my plan of action. I paid off all
the establishment; and, having got hold again of my foster-father and
mother, Mr and Mrs Brandon, I rebuilt the lodge for them comfortably,
and there I located them. I shut up the whole of the Hall, except a
small sitting-room, and two bedrooms, for Pigtop and myself; and thus we
led the lives of recluses, having no other attendants than the Brandons.

By these means I was enabled to reserve all my rents for carrying on my
lawsuits, without at all impairing the estate. In eighteen years, I
thank God, I ruined my three opponents, and they all died in beggary.
The year after I came into undisputed possession of my estates, the next
heir got a writ issued against me of "_de inquirendo lunatico_," on the
ground of the strange and unworthy manner that I