Bolton of Naples could trace
him."

A long low whistle was Cutbill's only reply as he took the paper and
studied it long and attentively.

"Why, this is the whole story," cried he at last. "This old galley-slave
is the real claimant, and Pracontal has no right, while Niccolo, or
whatever his name be, lives. This may turn out glorious news for your
brother, but I 'm not lawyer enough to say whether it may not be the
Crown that will benefit, if his estates be confiscated for felony."

"I don't think that this was the sort of service Old Nick asked me to
render him when we parted," said Jack, dryly.

"Probably not. He only asked you to help his son to take away your
brother's estate."

"Old Nick knew nothing about whose brother I was. He trusted me to do
him a service, and I told him I would."

Though Cutbill paid but little attention to him, Jack talked on for some
time of his old comrade, recounting the strange traits of his nature,
and remembering with gratitude such little kindness as it was in his
power to show.

"I 'd have gone clean out of my mind but for him," said he, at last.

"And we have all believed that this fellow was lost at sea," muttered
Cutbill. "Bolton gave up all his papers and the remnant of his property
to his son in that belief."

"Nor does he wish to be thought living now. He charged me to give no
clew to him. He even said I was to speak of him as one I had met at
Monte Video years ago."

"These are things for a 'cuter head than yours or mine, Jack," said
Cutbill, with a cunning look. "We 're not the men to see our way through
this tangle. Go and show that scrap of paper to Sedley, and take this
box with you. Tell him how you came by each. That old fox will soon see
whether they confirm the case against your brother or disclose a flaw in
it."

"And is that the way I'm to keep my word to Old Nick?" said Jack,
doggedly.

"I don't suppose you ever bound yourself to injure your own flesh and
blood by a blank promise. I don't believe there 's a family in Europe
with as many scruples, and as little sense how to deal with them."

"Civil that, certainly."

"Not a bit civil, only true; but let us not squabble. Go and tell
Sedley what we have chanced upon. These men have a way of looking at the
commonest events--and this is no common event--that you nor I have never
dreamed of. If Pracontal's father be alive, Pracontal cannot be the
claimant to your estates; that much, I take it, is certai