"The surprise will vanish on reflection. But you are very new to the world
yet, my dear Leslie. By the way, I have had an interview with Peschiera--"

"About his sister's debts?"

"Partly. A man of the nicest honor is Peschiera."

Aware of Levy's habit of praising people for the qualities in which,
according to the judgment of less penetrating mortals, they were most
deficient, Randal only smiled at this eulogy, and waited for Levy to
resume. But the Baron sat silent and thoughtful for a minute or two, and
then wholly changed the subject.

"I think your father has some property in ----shire, and you probably can
give me a little information as to certain estates of a Mr.
Thornhill--estates which, on examination of the title-deeds, I find once,
indeed, belonged to your family." The Baron glanced at a very elegant
memorandum book--"The manors of Rood and Dulmonsberry, with sundry farms
thereon. Mr. Thornhill wants to sell them as soon as his son is of age--an
old client of mine, Thornhill. He has applied to me on the matter. Do you
think it an improvable property?"

Randal listened with a livid cheek and a throbbing heart. We have seen
that, if there was one ambitious scheme in his calculation which, though
not absolutely generous and heroic, still might win its way to a certain
sympathy in the undebased human mind, it was the hope to restore the
fallen fortunes of his ancient house, and repossess himself of the long
alienated lands that surrounded the dismal wastes of the mouldering Hall.
And now to hear that those lands were getting into the inexorable gripe of
Levy--tears of bitterness stood in his eyes.

"Thornhill," continued Levy, who watched the young man's
countenance--"Thornhill tells me that that part of his property--the old
Leslie lands--produces L2000 a year, and that the rental could be raised.
He would take L50,000 for it--L20,000 down, and suffer the remaining
L30,000 to lie on mortgage at four per cent. It seems a very good
purchase. What do you say?"

"Don't ask me," said Randal, stung into rare honesty; "for I had hoped I
might live to repossess myself of that property."

"Ah! indeed. It would be a very great addition to your consequence in the
world--not from the mere size of the estate, but from its hereditary
associations. And if you have any idea of the purchase--believe me, I'll
not stand in your way."

"How can I have any idea of it?"

"But I thought you said you had."

"I understo