Bedgellert, and claimant to the title of Lackington, in which he seems
successful. This is the writ of summons calling him to the Lords as
Viscount Lackington. Very curious and important these papers are,--more
curious, perhaps, than important,--for in all likelihood there have been
at least half a dozen confiscations of these lands since this time."

Mr. Hankes's observations were not well attended to, for Sybella was
already deep in the perusal of a curious old letter from a certain Dame
Marian Conway to her brother, then Sheriff of Cardigan, in which some
very strange traits of Irish chieftain life were detailed.

"I have an antiquarian friend who'd set great store by these old
documents, Miss Kellett," said Hankes, with a sort of easy indifference.
"They have no value save for such collectors; they serve to throw a
passing light over a dark period of history, and perhaps explain a
bygone custom or an obsolete usage. What do you mean to do with them?"

"Keep them. If I succeed in my plans about the cottage, these letters of
Spenser to Sir Lawrence Esmond are in themselves a title. Of course, if
I fail in my request, I mean to give them to Mr. Dunn."

"These were Welsh settlers, it would seem," cried Hankes, still bending
over the papers. "They came originally from Abergedley."

"Abergedley!" repeated Sybella, three or four times over. "How strange!"

"What is strange, Miss Kellett?" asked Hankes, whose curiosity was
eagerly excited by the expression of her features.

Instead of reply, however, she had taken a small notebook from her
pocket, and sat with her eyes fixed upon a few words written in her own
hand: "The Conways of Abergedley--of what family--if settled at any time
in Ireland, and where?" These few words, and the day of the year when
they were written, recalled to her mind a conversation she had once held
with Terry Driscoll.

"What is puzzling you, Miss Kellett?" broke in Hankes; "I wish I could
be of any assistance to its unravelment."

"I am thinking of 'long ago;' something that occurred years back. Didn't
you mention," asked she, suddenly, "that Mr. Driscoll had been the
former proprietor of thia cottage?"

"Yes, in so far as having paid part of the purchase-money. Does his name
recall anything to interest you, Miss Kellett?"

If she heard she did not heed his question, but sat deep sunk in her own
musings.

If there was any mood of the human mind that had an especial fascination
for Mr.