ich seemed to agree with him,
but half suffocated me. The Viscount's letter, however, very nearly put
us on a level, for it took his breath away, and all but finished him.

"'Do you know, sir,' said he, 'that Lord Culduff talks here of a title
to a presentation that I bought with the estate thirty years ago, and
that he has no more right in the matter than he has to the manor-house.
The vicarage is my sole gift, and though the present incumbent is
but two-and-thirty, he means to resign and go out to New Zealand.' He
maundered on about Lord Culduff's inexplicable blunder; what course
he ought to adopt towards him; if it were actionable, or if a simple
apology would be the best solution, and at last said, 'There was no one
for whom he had a higher esteem than Mr. L'Estrange, and that if I would
give him his address he would like to communicate with him personally
in the matter.' This looked at least favorable, and I gave it with great
willingness; but I am free to own I have become now so accustomed to be
jockeyed at every step I go, that I would n't trust the Pope himself, if
he promised me anything beyond his blessing.

"I saw Cluff again to-day, and he said he had half-written his letter to
L'Estrange; but being his postfumigation day, when his doctor enjoined
complete repose, he could not complete or post the document till
Saturday. I have thought it best, however, to apprise you, and
L'Estrange through you, that such a letter is on its way to Cattaro,
and, I trust, with satisfactory intelligence. And now that I must bring
this long narrative to an end, I scarcely know whether I shall repeat a
scandal you may have heard already, or, more probably still, not like
to hear now; but it is the town-talk here,--that Pracontal, or Count
Bram-leigh--I don't know which name he is best known by--is to marry
Lady Augusta. Some say that the marriage will depend on the verdict of
the trial being in his favor; others declare that she has accepted him
unconditionally. I was not disposed to believe the story, but Cluff
assures me that it is unquestionable, and that he knows a lady to whom
Lady Augusta confided this determination. And, as Cluff says, such
an opportunity of shocking the world will not occur every day, and it
cannot be expected she could resist the temptation.

"I am going back to England at once, and I enclose you my town address
in case you want me: '4, Joy Court, Cannon Street' The Culduff mining
scheme is now woun