No, no, nothing like that, my worthy fellow. In the present case, all I
ask for is your silence and your secrecy."

"Oh, that is easily had--go on, signor."

"Well, I wish to go over to-morrow by daybreak to Limerick. I desire,
too, that you should accompany me--as my companion, however, and my
equal. We are about the same height and size, so take that suit there,
dress yourself, and wait for me at the cross-roads below the village."

The Italian took the parcel without speaking, and was about to retire,
when Linton said,--

"You can write, I suppose?"

The other nodded.

"I shall want you to sign a document in presence of witnesses--not your
own name, but another, which I'll tell you."

The Italian's dark eyes flashed with a keen and subtle meaning, and
leaning forward, he said in a low, distinct tone,--

"His Excellency means that I should forge a name?"

"It is scarcely deserving so grave a phrase," replied Linton, affecting
an easy smile; "but what I ask amounts pretty much to that. Have you
scruples about it?"

"My scruples are not easily alarmed, signor; only let us understand
each other. I'll do _anything_"--and he laid a deep emphasis on the
word--"when I see my way clear before me, nothing when I am blindfolded."

"A man after my own heart!" cried Linton; "and now, good-night. Be true
to the time and place." And with this they parted.

The gray mist of a winter morning was just clearing away as Linton,
accompanied by Giovanni, drove up to the principal hotel of Limerick,
where Mr. Hammond, the eminent barrister, was then stopping. Having
ascertained that he was still in the house, Linton at once sent up
his name, with a request to be admitted to an interview with him. The
position he had so long enjoyed among the officials of the Viceroy had
made Linton a person of considerable importance in a city where the
"plated article" so often passes for silver: and no sooner had the
lawyer read the name, than he immediately returned a polite answer,
saying that he was perfectly at Mr. Linton's orders.

The few inquiries which Mr. Linton had meanwhile made at the bar of the
hotel informed him that Mr. Hammond was making all haste to England,
where he was about to appear in a case before the House of Lords; that
horses had been already ordered for him along the whole line of road,
and his presence in London was imperative. Armed with these facts,
Linton entered the room, where, surrounded with deeds, drafts