ing door, and were eagerly watching
for my appearance. As the window of my room was almost directly over
their heads, and lay open, I could hear the conversation which passed
between them. Shall I own that the words I overheard set my heart a
beating violently?

"You knew Carew intimately, Parsons?" asked one.

"Watty! to be sure I did. We were class-fellows at school and at
college."

"And liked him, I have heard you say?"

"Extremely. There was no better fellow to be found. He had his
weaknesses like the rest of us; but he was a true-hearted, generous
friend, and a resolute enemy also."

"Were you acquainted with his wife, Ned?" asked another.

"I was presented to her the day he brought her over," replied he; "we
all lunched with him at the hotel, but I never saw her after. The fact
was, Watty made a foolish match, and never was the same man to his
old friends after. Perhaps we were as much in fault as he was; at all
events, except MacNaghten and a few who were very intimate with him, all
fell off, and Carew, who was a haughty fellow, drew back from us, and
left the breach still wider."

"And what's your opinion of this claim?" asked another, who had not
spoken before.

"That I 'd not give sixpence for the chance of its success," said
he, laughingly. "Why, everybody knows that no trace of any document
establishing Carew's marriage could be found after his death. Some went
so far as to say that there never had been a marriage at all; and as to
the child, Dan MacNaghten told me years ago that the boy was killed
in some street skirmish in Paris,--so that, taking all the doubts and
difficulties together, and bearing in mind that old Joe Curtis has a
strong purse and is in possession, is there any man with common sense to
guide him would think the contest worth a trial?"

"Have you seen this young fellow yet?"

"No; and I am rather curious to have a look at him, for there were
strong family traits about the Carews."

As I heard these last words, I walked boldly out upon the balcony as if
to examine the state of the weather. There was a slight murmur of voices
heard beneath as I came forward, and one speaker exclaimed, "Indeed!" to
which Parsons quickly replied,--

"Positively astounding! It is not only that he has Carew's features,
but the carriage of the head and a certain half supercilious look are
exactly his!"

The words sent a thrill of hope through me, more than enough to
recompense me for the pain