before him. "I don't think he has been in Ireland since a mere child,
and very little in England."

"Then his recovery of the estate was quite unexpected?"

"Mere accident Kennyfeck came upon the proofs when making some searches
for a collateral claim. The story is very short. This lad's father,
whose name was Godfrey Cashel, was a poor lieutenant in the 81st, and
quartered at Bath, when he chanced to discover that a rich old bachelor
there, a certain Godfrey Browne, was a distant relation of his
mother. He lost no time in making his acquaintance and explaining the
relationship, which, however, brought him no more substantial benefit
than certain invitations to dinner and whist parties, where the
unfortunate lieutenant lost his half-crowns.

"At length a note came one morning inviting him to breakfast and to
'transact a little matter of business.' Poor Godfrey read the words with
every commentary that could flatter his hopes, and set out in better
spirits than he had known for many a year before. What, then, was
his dismay to discover that he was only wanted to witness the old
gentleman's will!--a very significant proof that he was not to benefit
by its provisions.

"With a very ill-repressed sigh, the poor lieutenant threw a glance over
the half-opened leaves, where leasehold, and copyhold, and freehold, and
every other 'hold' figured among funded property, consols, and reduced
annuities,--with money lent on mortgages, shares in various companies,
and What not,--a list only to be equalled by the long catalogue of
those 'next of kin,' who, to the number of seventeen, were mentioned as
reversionary heirs.

"'You are to sign your name here, Mr. Cashel,' said the solicitor,
pointing to a carefully-scratched portion of the parchment, where
already the initials were pencilled for his guidance.

"'Faith! and it's at the other side of the book I'd rather see it,' said
the lieutenant, with a sigh.

"'Not, surely, after seventeen others!' exclaimed the astonished
attorney.

"'Even so,--a chance is better than nothing.'

"'What's that he's saying?' interposed the old man, who sat reading his
newspaper at the fire. The matter was soon explained by the attorney,
and when he finished, Cashel added: 'That's just it; and I'm to sail for
the Cape on the 4th of next month, and if you 'll put me down among the
rest of the fellows, I 'll send you the best pipe of Constantia you
ever tasted, as sure as my name is Godfrey Cashe