s, sir. We shall be most proud to act as
Mr. Butler's agents, but I 'm not prepared to expose my life for the
agency."

"Then, I think I must go myself. It's clear the poor fellow ought to
know of his good fortune."

"I suspect that the Countess Brancaleone, the annuitant I mentioned,
will not send to tell him," said the lawyer, smiling; "for if Mr. Butler
should get knocked over in this ugly business, she inherits everything,
even to the family plate with the Butler arms."

"She sha'n't, if I can help it," said M'Gruder, firmly. "I'll set out
to-night."

Mr. Culter passed a warm eulogium on this heroic devotion, enlarged on
the beauty of friendship in general, and concluded by saying he would
step over to his hotel, where he had ordered dinner; after which he
would certainly drink Mr. M'Grader's health.

"I shall want some details from you," said M'Grader,--"something written
and formal,--to assure my friend that my tidings are trustworthy. I know
it will be no easy task to persuade him that he is a man of fortune."

"You shall have all you require, sir,--a copy of the will, a formal
letter from our house, reciting details of the property, and, what will
perhaps impart the speediest conviction of all, a letter of credit, in
Mr. Butler's favor, for five hundred pounds for immediate use. These are
the sort of proofs that no scepticism is strong enough to resist. The
only thing that never jests, whose seriousness is above all levity,
is money;" and so M'Grader at once acknowledged that when he could go
fortified with such testimonies, he defied all doubt.

His preparations for departure were soon made. A short letter to his
brother explained the cause of his sudden leaving; a longer one to Dolly
told how, in his love for her, he could not do enough for her friend;
and that, though he liked Tony well for his own sake, he liked him far
more as the "adopted brother and old playfellow of his dearest Dolly."
Poor fellow! he wrote this from a full heart, and a very honest one too.
Whether it imparted all the pleasure he hoped it might to her who read
it, is none of our province to tell. It is only ours to record that he
started that night for Genoa, obtained from a friend--a subordinate in
the Government employment--a letter to Garibaldi himself, and sailed
with an agent of the General's in charge of a supply of small-arms and
ammunition.

They were within thirty miles of Sicily when they were boarded by
the Neapolita