ning the cottage where the
old gentleman resided with his daughter. This, Linton, to my surprise,
did not take away, but simply contented himself by placing it in such a
prominent position as would in all likelihood attract your notice. To
no purpose, however; you would seem to have tossed it over, among other
papers, without attention. He went a step further; he broke the seal,
and left the enclosure half open. Still it lay unminded. The next night
he carried it off, but you never missed it."

"Nor was it of any consequence," broke in Cashel. "It was never
perfected, and had neither my signature nor my seal."

"Are you certain of that?" said Enrique, smiling dubiously.

"I could swear to it."

"Look here, then," said the other, as he drew forth a pocket-book, from
the folds of which he took a heavy package, and opened it before Cashel.
"Is that name, there,--that signature, 'Roland Cashel,'--yours?"

Cashel stared at the writing without speaking; his hands trembled as
they held the paper, and his very frame shook with agitation.

"I never wrote it!" cried he, at last, with an effort almost convulsive.

"Yet, see if it be not witnessed; there are the names and address of two
persons."

"It is a forgery; a clever one, I own, but still a forgery. I never
signed that paper--never saw it till this instant."

"Well," said Enrique, slowly, "I scarcely expected so much of memory
from you. It is true, as you say, you never did sign it; but _I_ did."

"You, Enrique,--you?" exclaimed Cashel.

"Yes, Roland. I accompanied Linton to Limerick at his request, dressed
to personate _you_. We were met at the hotel by two persons summoned
to witness this act of signature; of the meaning of which I, of course,
appeared to know nothing; nor did I, indeed, till long afterwards
discover the real significance."

"And how came you by it eventually?"

"By imitating Linton's own proceedings. I saw that for security he
placed it in an iron box, which he carried with him to Limerick, and
which contained another document of apparently far greater value. This
casket was long enough in my company on that morning to enable me to
take a model of the key, by which I afterwards had another made, and by
means of which I obtained possession of both these papers--for here is
the other."

"And when did you take them?"

"About an hour ago. I saw this drama was drawing to a finish. I knew
that Linton's schemes were advancing more rapidly than