words of his companion.

"Alive and well; and, moreover, is close at hand."

"The devil, she is! And you have been dallying around me all day without
opening your mouth."

"But remember, sir, you had another affair on your hands."

"What avail to get that miserable overseer out of the way, when the girl
herself is at hand?"

"One thing at a time. That excellent old man, Dr. Franklin, always
advised this method. The overseer is safe; now turn we to other
matters."

"Well, what shall be done?" said Jaspar, rising suddenly and paying his
devoir to the brandy-bottle.

"I will tell you," replied the attorney, rising from his chair and
coolly imitating Jaspar's example at the bottle. Then throwing himself
lazily upon the sofa--"I will tell you. The case is not desperate yet.
How much is the amount of the old colonel's property?"

"How, sir! What mean you?"

"Favor me with an answer," replied the attorney, with admirable
_sang-froid_, as he drew from his pocket a cigar-case, and, taking
therefrom a cigar, proceeded to light it with a patent vesuvian.
Politely tendering the case to Jaspar, who rudely declined the courtesy,
he continued, "It is necessary to our further progress that I have this
information."

"Well, perhaps he was worth four or five hundred thousand. What then?"
replied Jaspar, doggedly.

"No more? Surely, you forget. His city property was worth more than
double that sum."

"No more, by Heavens!" said Jaspar.

"Then, my dear sir, I fear you are a ruined man."

"Sir!" and Jaspar started bolt upright.

"See if you cannot think of something more," said De Guy, calmly.

"He might possibly have left more."

"Haven't you the schedule? Pray allow me to look at it;" and the
attorney rose and approached the secretary. With the ease of one
perfectly at home, and acquainted with every locality, he opened the
drawer which contained the business papers of the estate.

"What are you about, sir? You are impudent!"

"Not at all, sir. I wish to satisfy myself that the property is worth
more,"--and he commenced fumbling over the contents of the drawer.

"Take your hands out of that drawer, or I will blow your brains out!"
said Jaspar, fiercely, as he seized a pistol from the table.

"Very well," replied the attorney, closing the drawer; "you shall have
it as you will. I shall bid you a good-day,"--and he prepared to depart.

"Stay!" said Jaspar, replacing the pistol; "perhaps I can satisfy you,
though