to provoke discussion and hear what others might
say. None, however, spoke, and he waited some minutes.

"I wish you would say if you agree with me," cried he at last.

"I suspect very few would give the permission," said Julia, "but that
you are one of that few I believe also."

"Yes, Gusty," said Nelly. "Refuse it, and what becomes of that fair
spirit in which you have so often said you desired to meet this issue?"

"What does George say?" asked Bramleigh. "Let's hear the Church."

"Well," said L'Estrange, in that hesitating, uncertain way he usually
spoke in, "if a man were to say to me, 'I think I gave you a sovereign
too much in change just now. Will you search your purse, and see if I'm
not right?' I suppose I'd do so."

"And of course you mean that if the restitution rose to giving back some
thousands a year, it would be all the same?" said Julia.

"It would be harder to do, perhaps--of course; I mean--but I hope I
could do it."

"And _I_," said Bramleigh, in a tone that vibrated with feeling, "_I_
hoped a few days back that no test to my honesty or my sincerity would
have been too much for me--that all I asked or cared for was that the
truth should prevail--I find myself now prevaricating with myself,
hair-splitting, and asking have I a right to do this, that, or t'other?
I declare to heaven, when a man takes refuge in that self-put question,
'Have I the right to do something that inclination tells me not to do?'
he is nearer a contemptible action than he knows of. And is there not
one here will say that I ought, or ought not, to refuse this request?"

"I do not suppose such a request was ever made before," said L'Estrange.
"There lies the real difficulty of deciding what one should do."

"Here's a note from Mr. Sedley," cried Nelly. "Is it not possible that
it may contain something that will guide us?"

"By all means read Sedley," said Bramleigh. And she opened and read:--

"'Dear Sir,--

"'A Mr. Cutbill presented himself to me here last week, alleging he was
an old and intimate friend of yours, and showing unquestionable signs
of being well acquainted with your affairs. He was accompanied by M.
Pracontal, and came to request permission to make searches at Castello
for certain documents which he declared to be of great importance to the
establishment of his claim. I will not stop to say what I thought, or
indeed said, of such a proposal, exceeding in effrontery anything I had
ever listened to.