ed some hope that he might have escaped, from
his knowledge of Arabic. She received a small pension from the Egyptian
government, for the loss of my father, and added to this by teaching in
the families of several Turkish functionaries. Three years ago she
died, and I obtained, through the kindness of Lord Kitchener, an
appointment as interpreter in the Egyptian army. I was present at the
fights of Abu Hamed, the Atbara, Omdurman, and the late victory by
Colonel Wingate. My name, as Gregory Hilliard, was mentioned in
despatches; and will be mentioned, again, in that sent by Colonel
Wingate, but this time with the addition of Hartley.

"It was only accidentally, on the night after that battle, that I
learned that my father was the heir to the Marquis of Langdale, and I
thereupon obtained six months' leave, to come here."

"It is a singular story," the lawyer said, "and if supported by proofs,
there can be no question that you are the Marquis, for whom we have
been advertising, for many years."

"I think that I have ample proof, sir. Here is the certificate of my
father's marriage, and the copies of the registers of my birth and
baptism. Here is the journal of my father, from the time he was taken
prisoner till his death. Here are his letter to my mother, and letters
to his father, brother, and sisters, which were to be forwarded by her
should she choose to return to England. Here are two affidavits--the
one from a gentleman who has known me from childhood, the other from
the woman who nursed me, and who remained with our family till I
reached the Soudan. Here also is a letter that I found among my
mother's papers, written from Khartoum, in which my father speaks of
resuming the name of Hartley, if things went well there."

"Then, sir," Mr. Tufton said, "I think I can congratulate you upon
obtaining the title; but at the same time, I will ask you to leave
these papers with me, for an hour. I will put everything else aside,
and go through them. You understand, I am not doubting your word; but
of course, it is necessary to ascertain the exact purport of these
letters, and documents. If they are as you say, the evidence in favour
of your claim would be overwhelming.

"Of course, it is necessary that we should be most cautious. We have,
for upwards of a hundred years, been solicitors to the family; and as
such have contested all applications, from the junior branch of the
family, that the title should be declared vacant