nd you will take it on yourself?" He
drew himself up, and looked about the hall at the dark rows of
portraits. "In the name of my ancestors, I thank you," says he; and
then, with a return to irony, "But there must certainly be an allowance
for Secundra Dass?" he said. "It is not possible they have omitted
that?"

"I will make a note of it, and ask instructions when I write," said I.

And he, with a sudden change of manner, and leaning forward with an
elbow on the table--"Do you think this entirely wise?"

"I execute my orders, Mr. Bally," said I.

"Profoundly modest," said the Master; "perhaps not equally ingenuous.
You told me yesterday my power was fallen with my father's death. How
comes it, then, that a peer of the realm flees under cloud of night out
of a house in which his fathers have stood several sieges? that he
conceals his address, which must be a matter of concern to his Gracious
Majesty and to the whole republic? and that he should leave me in
possession, and under the paternal charge of his invaluable Mackellar?
This smacks to me of a very considerable and genuine apprehension."

I sought to interrupt him with some not very truthful denegation; but he
waved me down, and pursued his speech.

"I say, it smacks of it," he said; "but I will go beyond that, for I
think the apprehension grounded. I came to this house with some
reluctancy. In view of the manner of my last departure, nothing but
necessity could have induced me to return. Money, however, is that which
I must have. You will not give with a good grace; well, I have the power
to force it from you. Inside of a week, without leaving Durrisdeer, I
will find out where these fools are fled to. I will follow; and when I
have run my quarry down, I will drive a wedge into that family that
shall once more burst it into shivers. I shall see then whether my Lord
Durrisdeer" (said with indescribable scorn and rage) "will choose to buy
my absence; and you will all see whether, by that time, I decide for
profit or revenge."

I was amazed to hear the man so open. The truth is, he was consumed with
anger at my lord's successful flight, felt himself to figure as a dupe,
and was in no humour to weigh language.

"Do you consider _this_ entirely wise?" said I, copying his words.

"These twenty years I have lived by my poor wisdom," he answered with a
smile that seemed almost foolish in its vanity.

"And come out a beggar in the end," said I, "if beggar be a st