opped on the timber joist as if it were a
velocipede, his long legs dangling down, he with thigh and hand impelled
himself onward till he gained the ridge of a wall, on which he delivered
his person, and wiped his spectacles.

Lionel was not long before he stood in the same place. "Here we are,"
said Fairthorn.

"I don't see the collection," answered Lionel, first peering down
athwart the joists upon the rugged ground overspread with stones and
rubbish, then glancing up through similar interstices above to the gaunt
rafters.

"Here are some,--most precious," answered Fairthorn, tapping behind him.
"Walled up, except where these boards, cased in iron, are nailed
across, with a little door just big enough to creep through; but that is
locked,--Chubb's lock, and Mr. Darrell keeps the key!--treasures for
a palace! No, you can't peep through here--not a chink; but come on a
little further,--mind your footing."

Skirting the wall, and still on the perilous ridge, Fairthorn crept on,
formed an angle, and stopping short, clapped his eye to the crevice
of some planks nailed rudely across a yawning aperture. Lionel found
another crevice for himself, and saw, piled up in admired disorder,
pictures, with their backs turned to a desolate wall, rare cabinets, and
articles of curious furniture, chests, boxes, crates,--heaped pell-mell.
This receptacle had been roughly floored in deal, in order to support
its miscellaneous contents, and was lighted from a large window (not
visible in front of the house), glazed in dull rough glass, with
ventilators.

"These are the heavy things, and least costly things, that no one could
well rob. The pictures here are merely curious as early specimens,
intended for the old house, all spoiling and rotting; Mr. Darrell wishes
them to do so, I believe! What he wishes must be done! my dear young
sir: a prodigious mind; it is of granite!"

"I cannot understand it," said Lionel, aghast. "The last man I should
have thought capriciously whimsical."

"Whimsical! Bless my soul! don't say such a word, don't, pray! or the
roof will fall down upon us! Come away. You have seen all you can see.
You must go first now; mind that loose stone there!"

Nothing further was said till they were out of the building; and Lionel
felt like a knight of old who had been led into sepulchral halls by a
wizard.

CHAPTER V.

The annals of empire are briefly chronicled in family records
brought down to the pr