"'Of course I not only refused this permission, but declared I would
immediately write to you, imploring you, on no account or through any
persuasion, to yield to it.

"'They left me, and apparently so disconcerted and dissuaded by my
reception that I did not believe it necessary to address you on the
subject. To my amazement, however, I learn from Kelson this morning that
they actually did gain entrance to the house, and, by means which I have
not yet ascertained, prosecuted the search they desired, and actually
discovered the church registers of Portshandon, in one page of which
is the entry of the marriage of Montague Bramleigh and Enrichetta Lami,
with the name of the officiating clergyman and the attendant witnesses.
Kelson forwards me a copy of this, while inviting me to inspect the
original. My first step, however, has been to take measures to proceed
against these persons for robbery; and I have sent over one of my clerks
to Ireland to obtain due information as to the events that occurred,
and to institute proceedings immediately. I do not believe that they
committed a burglary, but it was a felonious entry all the same.

"'The important fact, however, lies in this act of registration, which,
however fraudulently obtained, will be formidable evidence on a trial.
You are certainly not happy in your choice of friends, if this Mr.
Cutbill be one of them; but I hope no false sentiment will induce you
to step between this man and his just punishment. He has done you an
irreparable mischief, and by means the most shameful and inexcusable.
I call the mischief irreparable, since, looking to the line of argument
adopted by our leading counsel on the last trial, the case chiefly
turned on the discredit that attached to this act of marriage. I cannot
therefore exaggerate the mischief this discovery has brought us. You
must come over at once. The delay incurred by letter-writing, and the
impossibility of profiting by any new turn events may take, renders your
presence here essential, and without it I declare I cannot accept any
further responsibility in this case.

"'A very flippant note from Mr. Cutbill has just reached me. He narrates
the fact of the discovered books, and says, "It is not too late for B.
to make terms. Send for him at once, and say that Count P. has no
desire to push him to the wall." It is very hard to stomach this man's
impertinence, but I hesitate now as to what course to take regarding
him. Let me h