d at. It was enough that he read the indorsement, "Deed of
conveyance of the Cottage and Lands of Tubber-beg."

Feeling how far he himself was interested in the paper, and well knowing
the forgetful habits of Cashel, who would never detect its removal, he
coolly folded it up and carried it away.

At first, his intention was simply to peruse the paper at his ease, and,
if need were, to show it in confidence to Cor-rigan, and thus establish
for himself that degree of influence over the old man which the
character of his landlord might convey. But another and a bolder
expedient soon suggested itself to his mind--nor was he one to shrink
from an enterprise merely on account of its hazard--and this was no
less than to forge Cashel's signature to the deed; for, as yet, it was
wanting in that most essential particular.

That Roland would never remember anything of the matter, and that he
would always incline to believe his own memory defective, than suppose
such a falsification possible, Linton was well convinced. There was but
one difficulty; how should he manage for the witnesses, whose names were
to be appended as actually present at the moment of signing. Here was a
stumbling-block--since he could scarcely hope to find others as short of
memory as was Roland Cashel. It was while still canvassing the question
in his mind that he came upon the intelligence in the newspaper of the
lawyer's arrival at Limerick, and suddenly it struck him that he
could easily in that city find out two persons, who, for a sufficient
consideration, would append their signatures to the deed. A little
further reflection devised even an easier plan, which was to take along
with him the Italian sailor Giovanni, and make him represent Cashel,
whose appearance was quite unknown. By Giovanni's personation of Roland,
Linton escaped all the hazard of letting others into his confidence,
while the sailor himself, in a few days more, would leave the
country--never to return.

It was with the calm assurance of a man who could put a price upon
any action required of him, that Giovanni found himself, an hour after
midnight, summoned to Linton's dressing-room.

"I told you some time back, Giovanni, that we might be serviceable to
each other. The hour has come a little earlier than I looked for; and
now the question is, are you of the same mind as you then were?"

"I know nothing of the laws of this country, signor, but if there be
life on the issue--"

"