capacity."

"In a word, then," said his friend, "if you must have a definition,
Hatton may rank under the genus 'antiquary,' though his species is
more difficult to describe. He is a heraldic antiquary; a discoverer,
inventor, framer, arranger of pedigrees; profound in the mysteries
of genealogies; an authority I believe unrivalled in everything that
concerns the constitution and elements of the House of Lords; consulted
by lawyers, though not professing the law; and startling and alarming
the noblest families in the country by claiming the ancient baronies
which they have often assumed without authority, for obscure pretenders,
many of whom he has succeeded in seating in the parliament of his
country."

"And what part of the country did he come from: do you happen to know?"
inquired Morley, evidently much interested, though he attempted to
conceal his emotion.

"He may be a veritable subject of the kingdom of Cockaigne, for aught I
know," replied his friend. "He has been buried in this inn I believe
for years; for very many before I settled here; and for a long time I
apprehend was sufficiently obscure, though doing they say a great deal
in a small way; but the Mallory case made his fortune about ten years
ago. That was a barony by writ of summons which had been claimed a
century before, and failed. Hatton seated his man, and the precedent
enabled three or four more gentlemen under his auspices to follow that
example. They were Roman Catholics, which probably brought him the
Mallory case, for Hatton is of the old church; better than that, they
were all gentlemen of great estate, and there is no doubt their champion
was well rewarded for his successful service. They say he is very rich.
At present all the business of the country connected with descents flows
into his chambers. Not a pedigree in dispute, not a peerage in
abeyance, which is not submitted to his consideration. I don't know him
personally; but you can now form some idea of his character: and if you
want to claim a peerage," the journalist added laughingly, "he is your
man."

A strong impression was on the mind of Morley that this was his man: he
resolved to inquire of Gerard, whom he should see in the evening, as
to the fact of their Hatton being a Catholic, and if so, to call on the
antiquary on the morrow.

In the meantime we must not forget one who is already making that visit.
Sir Vavasour Firebrace is seated in a spacious library that looks upon