sidering the powers of the horse, that
box should be about Stormy Gap by this time. A quarter to four by me.
What does your watch say, sir?"

"The deed has been sent for, post-haste, has it? And you know for what
purpose?"

"You must draw a distinction between the deed and the box containing
it, Sir Duncan. Or, to put it more accurately, betwixt that deed and its
casual accompaniments. It happens to be among very old charters, which
happen to be wanted for certain excellent antiquarian purposes.
Such things are not in my line, I must confess, although so deeply
interesting. But a very learned man seems to have expressed--"

"Rubbish. Excuse me, but you are most provoking. You know, as well as I
do, that robbery is intended, and you allow yourself to be made a party
to it."

This was the simple truth; and the lawyer, being (by some strange
inversion of professional excellence) honest at the bottom, was deeply
pained at having such words used, as to, for, about, or in anywise
concerning him.

"I think, Sir Duncan, that you will be sorry," he answered, with much
dignity, "for employing such language where it can not be resented. Your
father was a violent man, and we all expect violence of your family."

"There is no time to go into that question now. If I have wronged you,
I will beg your pardon. A very few hours will prove how that is. How and
by whom have you sent the box?"

Mr. Jellicorse answered, rather stiffly, that his clients had sent a
trusty servant with a light vehicle to fetch the box, and that now he
must be half way toward home.

"I shall overtake him," said Sir Duncan, with a smile; "I have a good
horse, and I know the shortcuts. Hoofs without wheels go a yard to a
foot upon such rocky collar-work."

Without another word, except "Good-by," Sir Duncan Yordas left the
house, walked rapidly to the inn, and cut short the dinner his good
horse was standing up to. In a very few minutes he was on Tees bridge,
with his face toward the home of his ancestors.

It may be supposed that neither his thoughts nor those of the lawyer
were very cheerful. Mr. Jellicorse was deeply anxious as to the conflict
which must ensue, and as to the figure his fair fame might cut, if this
strange transaction should be exposed and calumniated by evil tongues.
In these elderly days, and with all experience, he had laid himself
open, not legally perhaps, but morally, to the heavy charge of
connivance at a felonious act, and ev