his own good sense, whether it would not be
more for the honor of his family to give him an opportunity of yielding
quietly, and without public scandal, than to drag the matter before the
world in a court of justice. It was so arranged; and a suitable
warrant having been procured to enable them to produce the body of the
unfortunate Fenton, the proceedings of that day closed very much to
their satisfaction.

The next day, between two and three o'clock, a visitor, on particular
business, was announced to Lord Cullamore; and on being desired to walk
up, our friend Birney made his bow to his lordship. Having been desired
to take a seat, he sat down, and his lordship, who appeared to be very
feeble, looked inquiringly at him, intimating thereby that he waited to
know the object of his visit.

"My lord," said the attorney, "in the whole course of my professional
life, a duty so painful as this has never devolved upon me. I come
supported with proofs sufficient to satisfy you that your title and
property cannot descend to your son, Lord Dunroe."

"I have no other son, sir," said his lordship, reprovingly.

"I do not mean to insinuate that you have, my lord. I only assert that
he who is supposed to be the present heir, is not really so at all."

"Upon what proofs, sir, do you ground that assertion?"

"Upon proofs, my lord, the most valid and irrefragable; proofs that
cannot be questioned, even for a moment; and, least of all, by your
lordship, who are best acquainted with their force and authenticity."

"Have you got them about you?"

"I have got copies of the documentary proofs, my lord, and I shall now
place them before you."

"Yes; have the goodness to let me see them."

Birney immediately handed him the documents, and mentioned the facts
of which they were the proofs. In fact, only one of them was absolutely
necessary, and that was simply the record of a death duly and regularly
attested.

The old man seemed struck with dismay; for, until this moment he had not
been clearly in possession of the facts which were now brought against
him, as they were stated, and made plain as to their results, by Mr.
Birney.

"I do not know much of law," he said, "but enough, I think, to satisfy
me, that unless you have other and stronger proofs than this, you cannot
succeed in disinheriting my son. I have seen the originals of those
before, but I had forgotten some facts and dates connected with them at
the time."

"We have