e
forwarded me, and I suspect it is a strong case got up to intimidate."

"What is the peerage sought for?" asked Davis, with an assumed
indifference.

"I can tell you in five minutes if you have any curiosity on the
subject," said Paul, rising. "The papers are all in my writing-desk."

"Fetch them," said Davis, as he walked to the window and looked out.

Classon soon re-entered the room with a large open letter in his hand.

"There's the map of the country!" said he, throwing it down on the
table. "What would you call the fair odds in such a case, Kit,--a
private soldier's chance of a peerage that has been undisturbed since
Edward the Third?"

"About ten thousand to one, I 'd call it."

"I agree with you, particularly since Froode is in it. He only takes
up these cases to make a compromise. They 're always 'settled.' He's a
wonderful fellow to sink the chambers and charge the mine, but he never
explodes,--never!"

"So that Froode can always be squared, eh?" asked Davis.

"Always." Classon now ran his eyes over the letter, and, mumbling
the lines half aloud, said, "In which case the Conways of Abergeldy,
deriving from the second son, would take precedence of the Beecher
branch.' The case is this," added he, aloud: "Viscompt Lackington's
peerage was united to the estates by an act of Edward; a motion for a
repeal of this was made in Elizabeth's time, and lost--some aver the
reverse; now the claimant, Conway, relies upon the original act, since
in pursuit of the estates he invalidates the title. It's a case to
extort money, and a good round sum too. I 'd say Lord Lack-ington might
give twenty thousand to have all papers and documents of the claim
surrendered into his hands."

"A heavy sum, twenty thousand," muttered Davis, slowly.

"So it is, Kit; but when you come to tot up suits at Nisi Prius, suits
in Equity, searches at the Herald's office, and hearings before the
Lords, you 'll see it is a downright saving."

"But could Lackington afford this? What is he worth?"

"They call the English property twelve thousand a year, and he has a
small estate in Ireland besides. In fact, it is out of that part of the
property the mischief has come. This Conway's claim was discovered in
some old country-house there, and Froode is only partially instructed in
it."

"And now, Paul," said Davis, slowly, "if you got a commission to square
this here affair and make all comfortable, how would you go about it?"

"Acting f