osting me very large sums in paying his
debts, he was sent down from the university. He would not turn his hands
to anything, and went up to London with the idea of making his way
somehow. He made nothing but debts, got into various scandalous affairs,
and dragged our name through the dust. At last he came home one day and
calmly informed me that he had married a woman in a rank of life beneath
him. She was, I believe, the daughter of a horse-dealer of very doubtful
character. He also said that he wanted L1200 to enable him to start fair.
I lost my temper and said that he should not have another pound from me.
We had a desperate quarrel, and he left the house, taking with him all his
belongings. It was four years before I took any steps to bring him back.
Then his elder brother died, and on that I took every means to find him
out. That he would ever be a credit to me I did not even dare to hope, but
at least he could not be allowed to live in poverty. I advertised widely
and employed detectives for months, but all without result. I have long
since given up any hopes of ever seeing him again. I am glad, indeed, to
find that the title, at my death, will not go to a distant cousin, but to
my grandson, a gentleman in every way worthy of it. You are not married, I
hope?"

"I am not married, sir; but I think, if you had asked the question, I
should have replied that I was engaged, or rather had hopes of being
engaged soon."

"Who is she?" the baronet asked quickly.

"She is the only daughter of a successful West Indian planter, a man of
the highest standing in the colony, who has now returned and settled
here."

The baronet heaved a sigh of relief.

"That is well," he said; "and considering that you have been all your life
at sea, and have had no opportunity of making the acquaintance of ladies
of titled families, it is better than I could have expected. As I do not
know the procedure in these matters I had better consult my lawyer as to
the best way of using these relics and the proofs you have given me that
you are my grandson. It may be that my recognition of you is sufficient,
but it would be as well to make sure that at my death there will be no
opposition to your succession. You will stop here for a day or two, I
hope, before going up to town to arrange the little affair you spoke of,
and I think if your chances were good before, they will be still better
now that you are recognized as heir to a baronetcy and one o