question, signed by the king, and bearing the royal seal."

"Where is this? In whose possession?" said Hammond, eagerly.

Linton did not heed the question, but continued,--

"By a very singular coincidence, the discovery is not of so much moment
as it might be; because, as Cashel is about to marry the old man's
granddaughter--his sole heiress--no change in the destination of the
estate would ensue, even supposing Corrigan's title to be all that he
ever conceived it. However, Cashel is really anxious on the point:
he feels scruples about making settlements and so forth, with the
consciousness that he may be actually disposing of what he has no real
claim to. He is a sensitive fellow; and yet he dreads, on the other
side, the kind of exposure that would ensue in the event of this
discovery becoming known. The fact is, his own ancestors were little
better than bailiffs on the estate; and the inference from this
new-found paper would lead one to say, not over-honest stewards
besides."

"But if this document be authentic, Mr. Linton, Cashel's title is not
worth sixpence."

"That is exactly what I 'm coming to," said Linton, who, the reader
may have already perceived, was merely inventing a case regarding a
marriage, the better to learn from the counsel the precise position
the estate would stand in towards Mary Leicester's husband. "If this
document be authentic, Cashel's title is invalid. Now, what would
constitute its authenticity?"

"Several circumstances: the registry of the pardon in the State Paper
Office--the document itself, bearing the unmistakable evidences of its
origin--the signature and seal--in fact, it could not admit of much
doubt when submitted to examination."

"I told Cashel so," said Linton. "I said to him, 'My opinion
unquestionably is that the pardon is genuine; but,' said I, 'when we
have Hammond here, he shall see it, and decide the question.'"

"Ah! that is impossible--"

"So I perceive," broke in Linton; "we then hoped otherwise."

"Why did n't you bring it over with you?"

"So I did," said Linton; "here it is." And opening a carefully folded
envelope, he placed the important document in the lawyer's bands.

Hammond spread it out upon the table, and sat down to read it over
carefully, while Linton, to afford the more time to the scrutiny, took
the opportunity of descending to his breakfast.

He stopped as he passed the bar to say a few words to the landlord,--one
of those easy spee