him with a show
of frankness and cordiality, that hard old dog was as stern and as
unbending as if he was dealing with a housebreaker. He said he had no
instructions from you to make this concession; that, though he himself
attached not the slightest importance to any paper that might be found,
were he to be consulted, he would unquestionably refuse this permission;
that Mr. Bramleigh knew his rights too well to be disposed to encourage
persons in frivolous litigation; and that the coming trial would scatter
these absurd pretensions to the winds, and convince M. Pracontal and
his friends that it would be better to address himself seriously to the
business of life than pass his existence in prosecuting a hopeless and
impossible claim.

"'I was much provoked at the sort of lecturing tone the old man assumed,
and struck with astonishment at the good temper and good breeding
with which the other took it. Only once he showed a slight touch of
resentment, when he said, "Have a care, sir, that, while disparaging my
pretensions, you suffer nothing to escape you that shall reflect on the
honor of those who belong to me. I will overlook everything that relates
to _me_. I will pardon nothing that insults _their_ memory." This
finished the interview, and we took our leave. "We have not gained much
by this step," said Pracontal, laughing, as we left the house. "Will
you now consent to write to Mr. Bramleigh, for I don't believe he would
refuse my request?" I told him I would take a night to think over it,
and on the same evening came a telegram from Ireland to say that some
strange discoveries were just being made in the Lisconnor mine; that a
most valuable "lode" had been artificially closed up, and that a great
fraud had been practised to depreciate the value of the mine, and
throw it into the market as a damaged concern, while its real worth
was considerable. They desired me to go over at once and report, and
Pracontal, knowing that I should be only a few miles from Bishop's
Folly, to which he clings with an attach-ment almost incredible,
determined to accompany me.

"'I have no means of even guessing how long I may be detained in
Ireland--possibly some weeks; at all events let me have a line to say
you will give me this permission. I say, "give _me_" because I shall
strictly confine the investigation to the limits I myself think
requisite, and in reality use the search as one means of testing what
importance may attach to thi