we have kept you talking over
four hours."

Dinner passed off quickly, and when wine had been placed on the
table, and the servants retired, Mr. Lindsay said:

"You will understand, Harry, that although absolutely certain that
you are my nephew, I do not resign, and offer you my seat at the
head of the table, until the documents that you have brought are
formally examined."

"What do you mean, uncle?" Harry asked, in surprise.

"I mean, of course, that as your father's son, this estate is
yours, and not mine."

Harry rose to his feet.

"I don't understand you, uncle. I never dreamt for a moment--" and
he stopped.

"That your father was my eldest brother. Yes, he was a year older
than myself; and at his father's death would, of course, have
succeeded to the estate. But he died before him; and you, as his
son, will of course succeed."

"But I could not dream of such a thing, uncle. Do you think that I
have come down here with the idea of turning you and my aunt and
cousin out, and taking your place? If I had known it, I should not
have come down at all. It would be monstrous if, after you have
been master here for twenty-five years, I should come down to claim
the estate from you."

"I am glad to hear you say so, Harry," his uncle said, gravely.
"Naturally, it did not occur to us that you were ignorant that your
father was the eldest son. We thought, from your manner, that you
would be willing to arrange everything on amicable terms; for of
course, legally, you are entitled to all the back rents, which I
honestly say I could not pay. Your aunt's little fortune, and my
portion as younger brother, will be amply sufficient to keep us
three comfortably; but as to paying the arrears, it would be
impossible."

"My dear uncle, the whole thing is impossible. I have returned home
with an ample amount of money to live in luxury. I did not think it
necessary to mention, in my story, that Nana Furnuwees presented me
with a considerable sum of money; and Bajee Rao did the same. This
I invested in land close to Bombay, which is now covered with
houses, and fetched five times the price I gave for it. In addition
to this, I have been in civil employment for the past six years
and, as I have always been on the move, I have never had the
expense of an establishment, and have thus saved some five thousand
pounds.

"Therefore I am master of something over ninety thousand pounds;
and can, if I do not return to India--which