ave proved the matter beyond dispute; and I wish I had better news
for you."

"I thank you, sir. You could not well have worse. I believe it upon your
word alone. No Yordas ever yet had pleasure of a son. The thing is quite
just. I will order my horse."

"Sir Duncan, allow me a few minutes first. You are a man of large
judicial mind. Do you ever condemn any stranger upon rumor? And will
you, upon that, condemn your son?"

"Certainly not. I proceed upon my knowledge of the fate between father
and son in our race."

"That generally has been the father's fault. In this case, you are the
father."

Sir Duncan turned back, being struck with this remark. Then he sat down
again; which his ancestors had always refused to do, and had rued it. He
spoke very gently, with a sad faint smile.

"I scarcely see how, in the present case, the fault can be upon the
father's side."

"Not as yet, I grant you. But it would be so if the father refused to
hear out the matter, and joined in the general outcry against his son,
without even having seen him, or afforded him a chance of self-defense."

"I am not so unjust or unnatural as that, sir. I have heard much about
this--sad occurrence in the cave. There can be no question that the
smugglers slew the officer. That--that very unfortunate young man may
not have done it himself--I trust in God that he did not even mean it.
Nevertheless, in the eye of the law, if he were present, he is as guilty
as if his own hand did it. Can you contend that he was not present?"

"Unhappily I can not. He himself admits it; and if he did not, it could
be proved most clearly."

"Then all that I can do," said Sir Duncan, rising with a heavy sigh, and
a violent shiver caused by the chill of his long bleak ride, "is first
to require your proofs, Mr. Mordacks, as to the identity of my child who
sailed from India with this--this unfortunate youth; then to give you
a check for 5000 pounds, and thank you for skillful offices, and great
confidence in my honor. Then I shall leave with you what sum you may
think needful for the defense, if he is ever brought to trial. And
probably after that--well, I shall even go back to end my life in
India."

"My proofs are not arranged yet, but they will satisfy you. I shall take
no 5000 pounds from you, Sir Duncan, though strictly speaking I have
earned it. But I will take one thousand to cover past and future outlay,
including the possibility of a trial. The balance I sh