e to him! for,
thank God, I can send him good news"--and he rang the bell, and asked
if his bag had come. It had, and was in his bed-room. "Could the
servant get him pen, ink, and paper?" The servant did so; and, within
two hours of his entering the doors of Grey Abbey, he was informing his
friend of the success of his mission.

XXXVII. VENI; VIDI; VICI [51]

[FOOTNOTE 51: Veni; vidi; vici--(Latin) Julius Caesar's terse
message to the Senate announcing his victory over
King Pharnaces II of Pontus in 47 B.C.: "I came,
I saw, I conquered."]

The two following letters for Lord Ballindine were sent off, in the
Grey Abbey post-bag, on the evening of the day on which Mr Armstrong
had arrived there. They were from Mr Armstrong and Lord Cashel. That
from the former was first opened.

Grey Abbey, April, 1844

Dear Frank,

You will own I have not lost much time. I left Kelly's Court the day
before yesterday and I am already able to send you good news. I have
seen Lord Cashel, and have found him anything but uncourteous. I
have also seen Miss Wyndham, and though she said but little to me,
that little was just what you would have wished her to say. She
bade me tell you to come yourself. In obedience to her commands, I
do hereby require you to pack yourself up, and proceed forthwith
to Grey Abbey. His lordship has signified to me that it is his
intention, in his own and Lady Cashel's name, to request the renewed
pleasure of an immediate, and, he hopes, a prolonged visit from your
lordship. You will not, my dear Frank, I am sure, be such a fool as
to allow your dislike to such an empty butter-firkin as this earl,
to stand in the way of your love or your fortune. You can't expect
Miss Wyndham to go to you, so pocket your resentment like a sensible
fellow, and accept Lord Cashel's invitation as though there had been
no difference between you.

I have also received an invite, and intend staying here a day or
two. I can't say that, judging from the master of the house, I think
that a prolonged sojourn would be very agreeable. I have, as yet,
seen none of the ladies, except my embryo Lady Ballindine.

I think I have done my business a little in the _veni vidi vici_
style. What has effected the change in Lord Cashel's views, I need
not trouble myself to guess. You will soon learn all