arriage and death, and heard how the child, then a playful
little boy of three years or so, was the rightful heir of a vast
fortune,--a claim the grandfather firmly resolved to prosecute at some
future day. The hope was, however, not destined to sustain him, for the
boy caught a fever and died. His burial-place is mentioned, and his age,
four years."

"So that," cried Augustus, "the claim became extinct with him?"

"Of course; for though Montague Bramleigh re-married, it was not till
six years after his first wife's death."

"And our rights are unassailable?" cried Nelly, wildly.

"Your estates are safe; at least, they will be safe."

"And who is Pracontal de Bramleigh?" asked Jack.

"I will tell you. Baldassare succeeded in winning Carlotta' s heart, and
persuaded her to elope with him. She did so, carrying with her all the
presents Bramleigh had formerly given to her sister,--some rings of
great price, and an old watch with the Bramleigh arms in brilliants,
among the number. But these were not all. She also took the letters and
documents that established her marriage, and a copy of the registration.
I must hasten on, for I see impatience on every side. He broke the heart
of this poor girl, who died, and was buried with her little boy, in
the same grave, leaving old Lami desolate and childless. By another
marriage, and by a wife still living, Marie Pracontal, Baldassare had a
son; and he bethought him, armed as he was with papers and documents, to
prefer the claim to the Bramleigh estates for this youth; and had even
the audacity to ask Lami's assistance to the fraud, and to threaten him
with his vengeance if he betrayed him.

"So perfectly propped was the pretension by circumstances of actual
events,--Niccolo knew everything,--that Bramleigh not only sent
several sums of money to stifle the demand, but actually despatched a
confidential person abroad to see the claimant, and make some compromise
with him; for it is abundantly evident that Montague Bramleigh only
dreaded the scandal and the _eclat_ such a story would create, and had
no fears for the title to his estates, he all along believing that there
were circumstances in the marriage with Enrichetta which would show it
to be illegal, and the issue consequently illegitimate."

"I must say, I think our respected grandfather," said Augustus, gravely,
"does not figure handsomely in this story."

"With the single exception of old Lami," cried Jack, "they were