s he spoke in a very low voice. "The fact is, Sam,
while I was ill and low-spirited I got a number of curious fancies into
my head--half-delirious, I suppose--about some deeds and documents left
in my charge by your aunt, Tom Blount's mother, when she died."

"Yes?" said Sam, growing interested now.

"I fancied somehow, my boy, that it was my duty to give those deeds up
to your cousin; and though I fought against it for some time, the idea
grew too strong for me, and I felt that I must send for him and give
them over into his charge."

"Were they his by rights, father?" said Sam sharply.

"They were given into my charge, my boy," replied his father evasively,
"and I behaved very weakly and foolishly in giving them up to your
cousin."

"Then you did give them up to Tom that day?"

"Yes, Sam, and it is a very troublesome matter. I tell you, I did not
know what I was about then, and it will affect you very seriously by and
by, if I don't get them back."

"You mean in money matters, father?" said Sam sharply.

"Yes; affect me now heavily, and you by and by."

"Get them back then at once," said Sam--the young lawyer giving the
elder advice.

"Yes, Sam, my boy, that's what I want to do, but how?"

"Write and tell young Tom to bring them up."

James Brandon shook his head.

"No use--no use, my boy. I must have said a great many foolish things
to the lad that day."

"But you must get the papers or whatever they are back again, father,"
cried Sam, who was now growing excited. "You'll have to go down there
yourself."

"Impossible; but I have made up my mind to send you to try and get
them."

"And suppose I did, father?"

"Suppose you did? Why then, my boy, I could--I mean we could laugh at
them, treat anything that was said with contempt. Do you hear? With
contempt."

"Stop a bit," said Sam quietly. "You always told me to be cautious in
business matters, and that I was to keep one foot down firmly till I
found a safe place for the other."

"Of course, my lad, of course."

"Well, suppose I go down to that country bumpkin's place?"

"Yes, if you went down you would find out where the papers were kept,"
said James Brandon eagerly.

"And if I did?"

"You could bring them away. The boy's too stupid to take very great
care of them."

"But suppose he has given them to Uncle Richard?"

"Pish! what then? Your uncle would only pitch them into a drawer, and
go away to forget them, and dream about