My enemy, the gout, has possession of me again. Take a seat. Are you
staying in town?"

"I have just arrived from West Lynne. The chief object of my journey was
to see your lordship."

"What can I do for you?" asked the earl, uneasily; for a suspicion had
crossed his mind that Mr. Carlyle might be acting for some one of his
many troublesome creditors.

Mr. Carlyle drew his chair nearer to the earl, and spoke in a low
tone,--

"A rumor came to my ears, my lord, that East Lynne was in the market."

"A moment, sir," exclaimed the earl, with reserve, not to say hauteur
in his tone, for his suspicions were gaining ground; "are we to
converse confidentially together, as men of honor, or is there something
concealed behind?"

"I do not understand you," said Mr. Carlyle.

"In a word--excuse my speaking plainly, but I must feel my ground--are
you here on the part of some of my rascally creditors, to pump
information out of me, that otherwise they would not get?"

"My lord," uttered the visitor, "I should be incapable of so
dishonorable an action. I know that a lawyer gets credit for possessing
but lax notions on the score of honor, but you can scarcely suspect that
I should be guilty of underhand work toward you. I never was guilty of
a mean trick in my life, to my recollection, and I do not think I ever
shall be."

"Pardon me, Mr. Carlyle. If you knew half the tricks and _ruses_ played
upon me, you would not wonder at my suspecting all the world. Proceed
with your business."

"I heard that East Lynne was for private sale; your agent dropped half a
word to me in confidence. If so, I should wish to be the purchaser."

"For whom?" inquired the earl.

"Myself."

"You!" laughed the earl. "Egad! Lawyering can't be such bad work,
Carlyle."

"Nor is it," rejoined Mr. Carlyle, "with an extensive, first-class
connection, such as ours. But you must remember that a good fortune was
left me by my uncle, and a large one by my father."

"I know. The proceeds of lawyering also."

"Not altogether. My mother brought a fortune on her marriage, and it
enabled my father to speculate successfully. I have been looking out for
an eligible property to invest my money upon, and East Lynne will suit
me well, provided I can have the refusal of it, and we can agree about
the terms."

Lord Mount Severn mused for a few moments before he spoke. "Mr.
Carlyle," he began, "my affairs are very bad, and ready money I must
find somewhere. N