per office, where I read the will of the late Sir
William. It was very short, merely disposing of his personal property to
his wife, and a few legacies; for, as I discovered, only a small portion
of the estates were entailed with the title, and the remainder was not
only to the heirs male, but the eldest female, should there be no male
heir, with the proviso, that should she marry, the husband was to take
upon himself the name of De Clare. Here, then, was the mystery explained,
and why Melchior had stolen away his brother's child. Satisfied with my
discovery, I determined to leave for England immediately, find out the
dowager Lady de Clare, and put the whole case into the hands of Mr
Masterton. Fortunately, Timothy had money with him sufficient to pay all
expenses, and take us to London, or I should have been obliged to wait
for remittances, as mine was all expended before I arrived at Dublin.
We arrived safe, and I immediately proceeded to my house, where I found
Harcourt, who had been in great anxiety about me. The next morning I
went to my old legal friend, to whom I communicated all that had happened.

"Well done, Newland," replied he, after I had finished. "I'll bet ten
to one that you find out your father. Your life already would not make
a bad novel. If you continue your hair-breadth adventures in this way,
it will be quite interesting."

Although satisfied in my own mind that I had discovered Fleta's
parentage, and anxious to impart the joyful intelligence, I resolved not
to see her until everything should be satisfactorily arranged. The
residence of the dowager Lady de Clare was soon discovered by Mr
Masterton; it was at Richmond, and thither he and I proceeded. We were
ushered into the drawing-room, and, to my delight, upon her entrance, I
perceived that it was the same beautiful person in whose ears I had seen
the coral and gold ear-rings matching the necklace belonging to Fleta. I
considered it better to allow Mr Masterton to break the subject.

"You are, madam, the widow of the late Sir William de Clare." The lady
bowed. "You will excuse me, madam, but I have most important reasons for
asking you a few questions, which otherwise may appear to be intrusive.
Are you aware of the death of his brother, Sir Henry de Clare?"

"Indeed I was not," replied she. "I seldom look at a paper, and I have
long ceased to correspond with any one in Ireland. May I ask you what
occasioned his death?"

"He fell by his own h