chmond.

"Gently, gently," said Mr. Die; "in the whole course of my legal
experience,--and that now has been a very long experience,--I have
never come across so,--so singular a family history as this of yours,
Mr. Fitzgerald. When our friend Mr. Prendergast here, on his return
from Ireland, first told me the whole of it, I was inclined to think
that he had formed a right and just decision--"

"There can be no doubt about that," said Herbert.

"Stop a moment, my dear sir; wait half a moment--a just decision, I
say--regarding the evidence of the facts as conclusive. But I was
not quite so certain that he might not have been a little--premature
perhaps may be too strong a word--a little too assured in taking
those facts as proved."

"But they were proved," said Herbert.

"I shall always maintain that there was ample ground to induce me to
recommend your poor father so to regard them," said Mr. Prendergast,
stoutly. "You must remember that those men would instantly have been
at work on the other side; indeed, one of them did attempt it."

"Without any signal success, I believe," said Mr. Die.

"My father thought you were quite right, Mr. Prendergast," said
Herbert, with a tear forming in his eye; "and though it may be
possible that the affair hurried him to his death, there was
no alternative but that he should know the whole." At this Mr.
Prendergast seemed to wince as he sat in his chair. "And I am sure of
this," continued Herbert, "that had he been left to the villanies of
those two men, his last days would have been much less comfortable
than they were. My mother feels that quite as strongly as I do." And
then Mr. Prendergast looked as though he were somewhat reassured.

"It was a difficult crisis in which to act," said Mr. Prendergast,
"and I can only say that I did so to the best of my poor judgment."

"It was a difficult crisis in which to act," said Mr. Die, assenting.

"But why is all this brought up now?" asked Herbert.

"Festina lente," said Mr. Die; "lente, lente lente; always lente. The
more haste we make in trying to understand each other, with the less
speed shall we arrive at that object."

"What is it, Mr. Prendergast?" again demanded Herbert, who was now
too greatly excited to care much for the Chancery wisdom of the great
barrister. "Has anything new turned up about--about those Molletts?"

"Yes, Herbert, something has turned up--"

"Remember, Prendergast, that your evidence is again inco