ife than to find out the heir to a certain great estate
in England which had lapsed from its rightful owner, and to obtain the
document which should establish his claim. To this end he had associated
himself with some relative of the missing youth,--a lady of rank, I have
heard tell, and of considerable personal attractions, who had braved
poverty and hardship of the severest kind in the pursuit of this one
object. I do not know where they had not travelled, nor what amount of
toil they had not bestowed on this search. Occasionally, allured by some
apparent clew, they had visited the most remote parts of the Continent;
and at last, acting on some information derived from one of their
many agents, they left Europe for America. That the pursuit is still
unsuccessful, an advertisement that I saw, a few days back, in a Dutch
newspaper, assures me. A large reward is there offered for any one who
can give certain information as to the surviving relatives of a French
lady,--the name I forget, but which at the time I remembered as one of
those connected with this story. And now, to apply the case to yourself,
there were so many circumstances of similitude in the fortunes of this
youth and your own life that it occurred to me, and not alone to me, but
to another, to make you his representative."

For a moment I scarcely knew whether to be indignant or amused at this
shameless avowal; but the absurdity overcame my anger, and I laughed
long and heartily at it.

"Laugh if you will, my dear Gervois," said he; "but you are not the
first, nor will you be the last, kite who has roosted in the eagle's
nest. Take my word for it, with all the cares and provisions of law, it
is seldom enough that the rightful heir sits in the hall of his fathers;
and, in the present case, we know that the occupant is a mere pretender;
so that your claim, or mine, if you like it, is fully as good as his to
be there."

"You have certainly excited my curiosity on one point," said I, "and it
is to know where the resemblance lies between this gentleman's case and
my own; pray tell me that!"

"Easily enough," said he, "and from the very papers in my hand: a mixed
parentage, French and English--a father of one country, a mother of
another--a life of scrapes and vicissitudes; but, better than all, a
position so isolated that none can claim you. There, my dear Gervois,
there is the best feature in the whole case; and if I could only inspire
your heart with a da