sh of the ambitious daring that fills my own, it is
not on a straw bed nor a starvation diet we should speculate over the
future before us. Just fancy, if you can, the glorious life of ease and
enjoyment that would reward us if we succeed; and as to failure, conjure
up, if you are able, anything worse than this;" and as he spoke he made
a gesture with his hand towards the wretched furniture of our humble
chamber.

"You seem to exclude from your calculation all question of right and
wrong," said I, "of justice or injustice."

"I have already told you that he who now enjoys this estate is not its
real owner. It is, to all purposes, a disputed territory, where the
strongest may plant his flag,--yours to-day; another may advance to the
conquest to-morrow. I only say that to fellows like us, who, for aught I
see, may have to take the high-road for a livelihood, this chance is not
to be despised."

"Then why not yourself attempt it?"

"For two sufficient reasons. I am a Pole, and my nationality can be
proved; and, secondly, I am full ten years too old: this youth was born
about the year 1782."

"The very year of my own birth!" said I.

"By Jove, Gervois! everything would seem to aid us. There is but one
deficiency," added he, after a pause, and a look towards me of such
significance that I could not misunderstand it.

"I know what you mean," said I; "the want lies in me,--in my lack of
energy and courage. I might, perhaps, give another name to it," added
I, after waiting in vain for some reply on his part, "and speak of
reluctance to become a swindler."

A long silence now ensued between us. Each seemed to feel that another
word might act like a spark in a magazine, and produce a fearful
explosion; and so we sat, scarcely daring to look each other in the
face. As we remained thus, my eyes fell upon the paper in his hand, and
read the following words: "Son of Walter Carew, of Castle Carew, and
Josephine de Courtois, his wife," I snatched the document from his
fingers, and read on. "The proof of this marriage wanting, but supposed
to have been solemnized at or about the year 1780 or '81. No trace of
Mademoiselle de Courtois' family obtainable, save her relationship to
Count de Gabriac, who died in England three years ago. The youth Jasper
Carew served in the Bureau of the Minister of War at Paris in '95, and
was afterwards seen in the provinces, supposed to be employed by the
Legitimist party as an agent; traced thenc