"You noticed our advertisement,
I presume?"

"I saw it this morning," I answered. "And it is on that account I am
here."

"One moment before we proceed any further. Forgive what I am about to
say--but you will see yourself that it is a point I am compelled not to
neglect. Can you convince me as to your identity?"

"Very easily," I replied, diving my hand into my breast-pocket and
taking out some papers. "First and foremost, here is my bank-book. Here
is my card-case. And here are two or three letters addressed to me by
London and Sydney firms. The Hon. Sylvester Wetherell, Colonial
Secretary, will be glad, I'm sure, to vouch for me. Is that sufficient
to convince you?"

"More than sufficient," he answered, smiling. "Now let me tell you for
what purpose we desired you to call upon us." Here he opened a drawer
and took out a letter. "First and foremost, you must understand that we
are the Sydney agents of Messrs, Atwin, Dobbs & Forsyth, of Furnival's
Inn, London. From them, by the last English mail, we received this
letter. I gather that you are the son of James Dymoke Hatteras, who was
drowned at sea in the year 1880?"

"I am."

"Your father was the third son of Sir Edward Hatteras of Murdlestone, in
the county of Hampshire?"

"He was."

"And the brother of Sir William, who had one daughter, Gwendoline Mary?"

"That is so."

"Well, Mr. Hatteras, it is my sad duty to inform you that within a week
of your departure from England your cousin, the young lady just referred
to, was drowned by accident in a pond near her home, and that her
father, who had been ailing for some few days, died of heart disease on
hearing the sad tidings. In that case, so my correspondents inform me,
there being no nearer issue, you succeed to the title and estates--which
I also learn are of considerable value, including the house and park,
ten farms, and a large amount of house property, a rent roll of fifteen
thousand a year, and accumulated capital of nearly a hundred thousand
pounds."

"Good gracious! Is this really true?"

"Quite true. You can examine the letter for yourself."

I took it up from the table and read it through, hardly able to believe
my eyes.

"You are indeed a man to be envied, Mr. Hatteras," said the lawyer. "The
title is an old one, and I believe the property is considered one of the
best in that part of England."

"It is! But I can hardly believe that it is really mine."

"There is no doubt about that,