ection that the right to your estate was contested, and
that you had to defend your possession."

"I had always thought till now," said Bramleigh, slowly, "that the
legal mind attached very little importance to the flying scandals that
amuse society. You appear to accord them weight and influence."

"I am not less a man of the world because I am a lawyer, Colonel
Bramleigh," said the other, half tartly.

"If this must be done the sooner it be over the better. A man of high
station--a peer--is at this moment paying such attention to one of my
daughters that I may expect at any moment, to-day perhaps, to receive
a formal proposal for her hand. I do not suspect that the threat of an
unknown claimant to my property would disturb his Lordship's faith in my
security or my station, but the sensitive dislike of men of his class
to all publicity that does not redound to honor or distinction--the
repugnance to whatever draws attention to them for aught but court favor
or advancement--might well be supposed to have its influence with him,
and I think it would be better to spare him--to spare us, too--this
exposure."

"I 'll attend to it immediately. Kelson hinted to me that the claimant
was now in England."

"I was not aware of that."

"Yes, he is over here now, and I gather, too, has contrived to interest
some people in his pretensions."

"Does he affect the station of a gentleman?"

"Thoroughly; he is, I am told, well-mannered, prepossessing in
appearance, and presentable in every respect."

"Let us ask him over to Castello, Sedley," said Bramleigh, laughing.

"I 've known of worse strategy," said the lawyer, dryly.

"What! are you actually serious?"

"I say that such a move might not be the worst step to an amicable
settlement. In admitting the assailant to see all the worth and value of
the fortress, it would also show him the resources for defence, and he
might readily compute what poor chances were his against such odds."

"Still, I doubt if I could bring myself to consent to it. There is
a positive indignity in making any concession to such a palpable
imposture."

"Not palpable till proven. The most unlikely cases have now and then
pushed some of our ablest men to upset. Attack can always choose its
own time, its own ground, and is master of almost every condition of the
combat."

"I declare, Sedley, if this man had retained your services to make
a good bargain for him, he could scarcely have selected a m