atisfaction as a full release of every
claim and demand he makes on you.' Just so; and a fairer offer never was
made; but I grieve to say it wasn't met in the same spirit."

"When you wrote that letter, Mr. Dalton," said Prichard, not looking
up from the papers before him, "you were doubtless suffering under the
impression of a wrong at the hands of Sir Stafford Ouslow."

"Faith, I believe you. The loss of a fine estate was n't a trifle,
whatever you may think it."

"The question ought rather to be, what right had you to attribute that
loss to him?"

"What right is it? All the right in the world. Who got the property?
Answer me that. Was n't it he came in as a sole legatee? But what am I
talking about? Sure the thing is done and ended, and what more does he
want?"

"I'm just coming to that very point, sir," said Prichard. "Sir
Stafford's attention having been accidentally called to this
transaction, he perceives that he has unwittingly done you a great
injustice, and that there is one matter, at least, on which he is bound,
even for his own satisfaction."

"Satisfaction, is it?" broke in Dalton, catching at the only word that
struck his ear with a distinct signification. "Better late than never;
and it 's proud I am to oblige him. Not but there 's people would tell
you that the time 's gone by, and all that sort of thing; but them was
never my sentiments. 'Never a bad time for a good deed,' my poor father
used to say, and you may tell him that I 'll think the better of his
countrymen to the day of my death, for what he 's going to do now."

Prichard laid down the paper he was reading, and stared at the speaker
in mute amazement.

"You 're his friend, I perceive," said Dalton.

"Sir Stafford is kind enough to consider me in that light."

"Faith, the kindness is all the other way," rejoined Dalton, laughing,
"at least, in this country; for the seconds are just as guilty as the
principals, and have no fun for their money. But, sure, we can cross
over to Landau; they tell me it's Barbaria there, over the Rhine."

"Bavaria, perhaps?" interposed the other.

"Yes, that 's what I said. We can be over the frontier in two hours.
There 's every conveniency in life," said he, rubbing his hands in high
glee.

"Our business, I trust, sir, can be all arranged here, and without much
delay, either."

"Just as you like; I 'm not fond of moving since my knee was bad, and I
'm agreeable to anything."

"You seem to conte