old them the
substance of it; and it seems it was on the list of proofs, but they
never could lay a hand on it."

Beecher heard no more, but taking up the lawyer's letter, which he had
thrown so indignantly from him the night before, he began patiently to
read it.

"Who can make head or tail of all this?" cried he, in angry impatience.
"The fellow writes as if I was a scrivener's clerk, and knew all their
confounded jargon. Mere schemes to extort money these!"

"Not always. There's now and then a real charge in the gun, and it's too
late to know it when you 're hit," cried Grog, quietly.

"Why do not Fordyce's people send out a proper person to communicate
with myself directly," said Beecher, haughtily. "They did, and I saw
him," said Grog, boldly.

Beecher grew crimson, and his lip trembled with a convulsive movement.
It was very hard indeed to restrain himself, but, with an effort, he
succeeded, and simply said, "And then--"

"And then," resumed Davis, "I packed him off again."

"What authority had you to thrust yourself forward in this manner?"
cried Beecher, passionately. "What authority?--the interest of my
daughter, the Viscountess Lackington," said Grog, with a mingled
insolence and mockery. "You may safely swear it was out of no special
regard for _you_. What authority?" And with this he burst out into a
laugh of sarcastic defiance.

"It need not offend you," said Beecher, "if I say that a question like
this must be intrusted to very different hands from yours."

"You think so, eh?"

"I'm sure of it."

"Well, I am not; so far from it, that I'm ready to declare if I can't
pull you through, there's not that man living who can. Lawyers can meet
lawyers. If one wins a trick here, the other scores one there. This
fellow has a deed,--that one has a codicil. It is always the same game;
and they 're in no hurry to finish, for they are playing on velvet. What
's really wanting is some one that does n't care a rush for a little
risk,--ready to bribe this man,--square the other,--burn a parish
register, if need be, and come at--at any document that may be
required,--at the peril of passing his days at Norfolk Island."

"You fancy that the whole world is like the ring at Ascot," said
Beecher, sneeringly.

"And ain't it? What's the difference, I'd like to know? Is it noble
lords like yourself would prove the contrary?"

"I will see Fordyce myself," said Beecher, coldly.

"You needn't be at the trouble," s