duty."

"True enough, Sir Duncan. But the duty here was welcome. Their knowledge
of that deed, and of his possession of it, would make him their master,
if he chose to be so. Not that old Jellicorse would think of such a
thing. He is a man of high principle like myself, of a lofty conscience,
and even sentimental. But lawyers are just like the rest of mankind.
Their first consideration is their bread and cheese; though some of them
certainly seem ready to accept it even in the toasted form."

"You may say what you like, Mordacks, my sister Philippa is far too
upright, and Eliza too good, for any such thing to be possible. However,
that question may abide. I shall not move until I have some one to do it
for. I have no great affection for a home which cast me forth, whether
it had a right to do so or not. But if we succeed in the more important
matter, it will be my duty to recover the estates, for the benefit of
another. You are sure of your proofs that it is the boy?"

"As certain as need be. And we will make it surer when you meet me there
the week after next. For the reasons I have mentioned, we must wait
till then. Your yacht is at Yarmouth. You have followed my advice in
approaching by sea, and not by land, and in hiring at Yarmouth for the
purpose. But you never should have come to York, Sir Duncan; this is
a very great mistake of yours. They are almost sure to hear of it.
And even your name given in our best inn! But luckily they never see a
newspaper at Scargate."

"I follow the tactics with which you succeed--all above-board, and no
stratagems. Your own letter brought me; but perhaps I am too old to be
so impatient. Where shall I meet you, and on what day?"

"This day fortnight, at the Thornwick Inn, I shall hope to be with you
at three o'clock, and perhaps bring somebody with me. If I fixed an
earlier day, I should only disappoint you. For many things have to be
delicately managed; and among them, the running of a certain cargo,
without serious consequence. For that we may trust a certain very
skillful youth. For the rest you must trust to a clumsier person, your
humble land-agent and surveyor--titles inquired into and verified, at a
tenth of solicitors' charges."

"Well," said Sir Duncan, "you shall verify mine, as soon as you have
verified my son, and my title to him. Good-by, Mordacks. I am sure you
mean me well, but you seem to be very long about it."

"Hot climates breed impatience, sir. A true son