nd the snow very deep in places, especially
at Stormy Gap, about a league from Scargate. Moreover, he knew that the
strength of his horse must be carefully husbanded for the return; and so
it was dusk of the winter evening, and the shops of the little town were
being lit with hoops of candles, when Jordas, followed by Saracen, came
trotting through the unpretending street.

That ancient dog Saracen, the largest of the blood-hounds, had joined
the expedition as a volunteer, craftily following and crouching out of
sight, until he was certain of being too far from home to be sent
back again. Then he boldly appeared, and cantered gayly on in front of
Marmaduke, with his heavy dewlaps laced with snow.

Jordas put up at a quiet old inn, and had Saracen chained strongly to a
ringbolt in the stable; then he set off afoot to see Mr. Jellicorse, and
just as he rang the office bell a little fleecy twinkle fell upon one
of his eyelashes, and looking sharply up, he saw that a snowy night was
coming.

The worthy lawyer received him kindly, but not at all as if he wished to
see him; for Christmas-tide was very nigh at hand, and the weather made
the ink go thick, and only a clerk who was working for promotion would
let his hat stay on its peg after the drum and fife went by, as they
always did at dusk of night, to frighten Bonyparty.

"There are only two important facts in all you have told me, Jordas,"
Mr. Jellicorse said, when he had heard him out: "one that Sir Duncan is
come home, of which I was aware some time ago; and the other that he has
been consulting an agent of the name of Mordacks, living in this county.
That certainly looks as if he meant to take some steps against us. But
what can he do more than might have been done five-and-twenty years
ago?" The lawyer took good care to speak to none but his principals
concerning that plaguesome deed of appointment.

"Well, sir, you know best, no doubt. Only that he hath the money now, by
all accounts; and like enough he hath labored for it a' purpose to
fight my ladies. If your honor knew as well as I do what a Yordas is for
fighting, and for downright stubbornness--"

"Perhaps I do," replied the lawyer, with a smile; "but if he has
no children of his own, as I believe is the case with him, it seems
unlikely that he would risk his substance in a rash attempt to turn out
those who are his heirs."

"He is not so old but what he might have children yet, if he hath none
now to ha