of wines. The wine-merchant names this
Chambertin, which was the favorite drinking of the great Napoleon."

"I wonder at that, now," said the old man, sententiously.

"Wonder at it! And why so, father?--is it not admirable wine?"

"It's just for that reason, Davy; every sup I swallow sets me
a-dreaming of wonderful notions,--things I know the next minute is quite
impossible,--but I feel when the wine is on my lips as if they were all
easy and practicable."

"After all, father, just remember that you cannot imagine anything one
half so strange as the change in our own actual condition. There you
sit, with your own clear head, to remind you of when and how you began
life, and here am I!--for I am, as sure as if I held my patent in my
hand, the Right Honorable Lord Castledunn."

"To your Lordship's good health and long life," said the old man,
fervently.

"And now to a worthier toast, father,--Lady Castledunn that is to be."

[Illustration: 255]

"With all my heart. Lady Castledunn, whoever she is."

"I said, 'that is to be,' father; and I have given you her name,--the
Lady Augusta Arden."

"I never heard of her," muttered the old man, dreamily.

"An Earl's daughter, sir; the ninth Earl of Glengariff," said Dunn,
pompously.

"What 's her fortune, Davy? She ought to bring you a good fortune."

"Say rather, sir, it is I that should make a splendid settlement,--so
proud a connection should meet its suitable acknowledgment."

"I understand little about them things, Davy; but there's one thing I do
know, there never was the woman born I 'd make independent of me if she
was my wife. It is n't in nature, and it isn't in reason."

"I can only say, sir, that with _your_ principles you would not marry
into the peerage."

"Maybe I 'd find one would suit me as well elsewhere."

"That is very possible, sir," was the dry reply.

"And if she cost less, maybe she'd wear as well," said the old man,
peevishly; "but I suppose your Lordship knows best what suits your
Lordship's station."

"That also is possible, sir," said Dunn, coldly.

The old man's brow darkened, he pushed his glass from him, and looked
offended and displeased.

Dunn quickly saw the change that had passed over him, and cutting
the wire of a champagne flask, he filled out a foaming tumbler of the
generous wine, saying, "Drink this to your own good health, father,--to
the man whose wise teachings and prudent maxims have made his son a
foremost fig