eir
emergencies. "Very well, I shall seek advice and let you know the
result."

"Seek advice," I cried. "Sure a man of your attainments doesn't need
to seek advice of any one. Aren't you learned in the law yourself?"

"I must have counsel's opinion," said Josiah solemnly, as if he were
speaking of the decisions of Providence.

"Well, you astonish me, Mr. Brooks, for I thought you knew it all, and
that's why I came to you; but perhaps it's only your own modesty that
makes you reluctant to speak of your attainments, though I suppose
what you really mean is that you want to take a pipe in your mouth and
a glass of good liquor at your elbow and read the papers at your
leisure."

Mr. Josiah Brooks was a solemn man, and he did not appear to relish
the picture I so graphically drew of him, when in truth I was thinking
only of his own comfort; so I changed the subject with an alertness of
mind which perhaps he was incapable of appreciating.

"How far from London is this estate of Brede?" I asked, "and how do
you get to it?"

"It is fifty or sixty miles away," he said, "and lies in the county of
Sussex, close to the sea, but not on it. If you wish to visit Brede
estate," he went on, as if I had not been telling him I was going to
do that very thing in force, "if you wish to visit Brede estate, the
best plan is to go to Rye and there engage a guide who will lead you
to it."

"Rye," said I in astonishment, wondering where I had heard the name
before; then, suddenly remembering, I said:

"Rye is a seaport town, is it not?"

"It is," agreed Mr. Brooks.

"Rye is the spot," rejoined I, "where Father Donovan will embark on
his pilgrimage to Rome. Sure, and I'm glad to hear that, for the good
old man and I will travel there together, and the blessing of
Providence will surround me, which I hope will be helpful if the
Earl's cut-throats bar the way, as is more than likely."

"Very well, Mr. O'Ruddy, as you are doubtless impatient to know the
result, you may call upon me to-morrow afternoon at four o'clock, and
I may be in a position to give you more information than I can offer
at present."

I took that as a dismissal, and, getting up, shook him warmly by the
hand, although his arm was as stiff as a pump handle, and he seemed to
take little pleasure in the farewell. And so I left the Temple, that
was as lonely as the road between Innishannon and the sea, and trudged
out into Fleet Street, which was as lively as Skibberee