asty message that called him away to the
country this morning, and left me to fill his place; and I, as you may
guess, was little loath to have a cosey chat with an old friend that I
have not seen--how many years is it?"

"It must be nigh ten, or even twelve!"

"Say, seven or eight and twenty, man, and you 'll be nigher the mark.
Let me see," said he, trying to remember, "the last time I saw you was
at Exeter. You were waiting for your trial about those bills of George
Colborne. Don't look so frightened; there's no one to hear us here.
It was as narrow an escape there as ever man had. It was after that, I
suppose, you took the name of Hankes?"

"Yes," said the other, in a faint whisper.

"Well, I must say Christianity does n't seem to have disagreed with you.
You 're in capital case,--a little pluffy for work, but in rare health,
and sleek as a beaver."

"Always the same. He will have his joke," muttered Hankes, as though
addressing some third party to the colloquy.

"I can't say that I have committed any excesses in that line of late,"
said Grog, dryly. "I 've had rather a tough fight with the world!"

"But you've fought it well, and successfully," Davis said the other, with
confidence. "Have n't you married your daughter to a Viscount?"

"Who told _you_ that? Who knows it here?" cried Grog, hurriedly.

"I heard it from Fordyce's people a fortnight ago. It was I myself
brought the first news of it to Davenport Dunn."

"And what did _he_ say?"

"Well, he didn't say much; he wondered a little how it came about;
hinted that you must be an uncommon clever fellow, for it was a great
stroke, if all should come right."

"You mean about the disputed claim to the title?"

"Yes."

"He has his doubts about that, then, has he?"

"He has n't much doubt on the subject, for it lies with himself to
decide the matter either way. If he likes to produce certain papers,
Conway's claim is as good as established. You are aware that they have
already gained two of their actions on ejectment; but Dunn could save
them a world of time and labor, and that's why he's coming up to-morrow.
Fordyce is to meet him at Calvert's Hotel, and they 're to go into the
entire question."

"What are his terms? How much does he ask?" said Grog, bluntly.

"I can't possibly say; I can only suspect."

"What do you suspect, then?"

"Well," said Hankes, drawing a long breath, "my impression is that if he
decide for the present Viscount, he 'l