"What so likely, from Augustus or your sister."

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'No. I can answer for it that neither of them ever spoke of him to me. I know it was not from them I heard it."

"But how tell the story of this suit without naming him?”

brother I was.

He trusted me to do him a service, and I told him I would."

Though Cutbill paid but little attention to him, Jack talked on for some time of his old comrade, recounting the strange traits of his nature, and remembering with gratitude such little kindness as it was in his power to show.

"I'd have gone clean out of my mind but for him," said he at last.

"And we have all believed that this fel

"They never did tell me the story of the suit, beyond the fact that my grandfather had been married privately in early life, and left a son whom he had not seen nor recognized, but took every means to disa-low was lost at sea," muttered Cutbill. vow and disown. Wait now, a moment; "Bolton gave up all his papers and the my mind is coming to it. I think I have remnant of his property to his son in that the clue to this old fellow's name. I must belief." go back to the villa, however, to be certain.' "Not a word of our discovery here to any one," cried Cutbill. "We must arrange to bring them all here, and let them be surprised as we were."

"I'll be back with you within an hour," said Jack. 66 My head is full of this, and I'll tell you why when I return." And they parted. Before Cutbill could believe it possible, Jack, flushed and heated, re-entered the room. He had run at top speed, found what he sought for, and came back in intense eagerness to declare the result.

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You've lost no time, Jack; nor have I either. I took up the flags under the altarsteps, and came upon this oak box. I suppose it was sacrilege, but I carried it off here to examine at our leisure."

"Look here," cried Jack, "look at this scrap of paper. It was given to me at the galleys at Ischia by the fellow I was chained to. Read these names, Giacomo Lami whose daughter was Enrichetta I was to trace him out, and communicate, if I could, with this other man, Tonino Baldassare or Pracontal he was called by both names. Bolton of Naples could trace him." A long low whistle was Cutbill's only reply as he took the paper, and studied it long and attentively.

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Why, this is the whole story," cried he at last. "This old galley-slave is the real claimant, and Pracontal has no right, while Niccolo, or whatever his name may be, lives. This may turn out glorious news for your brother, but I'm not lawyer enough to say whether it may not be the Crown that will benefit, if his estates be confiscated for felony."

"I don't think that this was the sort of service Old Nick asked me to render him when we parted," said Jack, drily.

"Probably not. He only asked you to help his son to take away your brother's estate."

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• Nor does he wish to be thought living now. He charged me to give no clue to him. He even said I was to speak of him as one I had met at Monte Video years ago." These are things for a 'cuter head than yours or mine, Jack," said Cutbill, with a cunning look. "We're not the men to see our way through this tangle. Go and show that scrap of paper to Sedley, and take this box with you. Tell him how you came by each. That old fox will soon see whether they confirm the case against your brother or disclose a flaw in it."

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"And is that the way I'm to keep my word to Old Nick?" said Jack, doggedly.

"I don't suppose you ever bound yourself to injure your own flesh and blood by a blank promise. I don't believe there's a. family in Europe with as many scruples, and as little sense how to deal with them." "Civil that, certainly."

"Not a bit civil, only true; but let us not squabble. Go and tell Sedley what we have chanced upon. These men have a way of looking at the commonest events and this is no common event that you nor I have never dreamed of. If Pracontal's father be alive, Pracontal cannot be the claimant to your estates; that much, I take it, is certain. At all events Sedley's the man to answer this."

Half pushing Jack out of the room while he deposited the box in his hands, Cutbill at last sent him off, not very willingly indeed, or concurringly, but like one who, in spite of himself, saw he was obliged to take a particular course, and travel a road without the slightest suspicion of where it led

to.

CHAPTER LXV.

THE LIGHT STRONGER. "SEDLEY asks for the best Italian schol

"Old Nick knew nothing about whose ar amongst us," said Augustus the next

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morning at breakfast," and the voice of Yes, if we have patience for it,” said public opinion calls upon you, Julia." he. And once more the laugh broke forth as they arose from table and separated into little knots and groups through the room.

"You know what Figaro said of common report. I'll not repeat it," said she, laughing, "and I'll even behave as if I didn't believe it. And now what is wanted of me, or my Italian scholarship?

"I may tell you, Julia," said Augustus, in a half whisper, "that though I have given up hoping this many a day, it is just possi"The matter is thus: Sedley has re-ble there may be something in these papers ceived some papers"— here a look of in- of moment to me, and I know I have only telligence passed between Augustus and to say as much to secure your interest in Jack-"which he imagines may be of them." consequence, but being in Italian, he can't read them. He needs a translator

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I believe you can rely upon that," said she and within less than five minutes afterwards she was seated at the table with Mr. Sedley in the study, an oblong box of oak clasped with brass in front of them, and a variety of papers lying scattered about.

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Have you got good eyes, Miss L'Estrange?" said Sedley, as he raised his spectacles, and turned a peering glance towards her.

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That's what I need from you at this moment; here are some papers with erasures and re-writings, and corrections in many places, and it will take all your acuteness to distinguish between the several contexts. Aided by a little knowledge of Latin, I have myself discovered some passages of considerable interest. I was half the night over them; but with your help, I count on accomplishing more in half an hour."

While he spoke, he continued to arrange papers in little packets before him, and, last of all, took from the box a painter's pallet and several brushes, along with two or three of those quaintly shaped knives men use in fresco-painting.

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Have you ever heard of the painter Giacomo Lami ?" asked he. 66 Of course I have. story in which he figures. has told it to me."

I know the whole
Mr. Bramleigh

"These are his tools. With these he accomplished those great works which have made him famous among modern artists, and by his will at least I have spelled ex-out so much—they were buried along with him."

out

"So I may tell Sedley you will him?" asked Bramleigh, "I'm ready now.

aid

Indeed, the sooner

begun the better, for we have a long walk project-haven't we, Jack?- for this afternoon."

"And where was he buried?"

"Here! here in Cattaro; his last work was the altar-piece of the little chapel of the villa."

"Was there ever so strange a coincidence!"

"The world is full of them, for it is a

"Does not this strengthen your impression?" asked Julia, turning and confronting him.

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very small world, after all. This old man, | four years; the last hope of a shattered driven from place to place by police perse- heart."" cutions for he had been a great conspirator in early life, and never got rid of the taste for it came here as a sort of refuge, and painted the frescoes of the chapel at the price of being buried at the foot of the altar, which was denied him afterwards; for they only buried there this box, with his painting utensils and his few papers. It is to these papers I wish now to direct your attention, if good luck will have it that some of them may be of use. As for me, I can do little more than guess at the contents of most of them."

"Now these," continued he, "seem to me bills and accounts; are they such?"

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Yes, these are notes of expenses incurred in travelling; and he would seem to have been always on the road. Here is a curious note: Nuremburg: I like this old town much; its staid propriety and quietness suit me. I feel that I could work here; work at something greater and better than these daily efforts for mere bread; but why after all should I do more? I have none now to live for none to work for! Enrichetta, and her boy, gone! and Carlotta

'Wait a moment," said the lawyer, laying his hand on hers. "Enrichetta was the wife of Montagu Bramleigh, and this boy their son."

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'Yes, and subsequently the father of Pracontal."

"And how so, if he died in boyhood?" muttered he; "read on."

"Now, Carlotta has deserted me! and for whom? For the man who betrayed me for that Niccolo Baldassare who denounced five of us at Verona, and whose fault it is not that I have not died by the hangman.""

"This is very important; a light is breaking on me through this cloud, too, that gives me hope."

"I see what you mean. You think that probably"

"No matter what I think. Search on through the papers: what is this? here is a drawing. Is it a mausoleum? "

"Yes; and the memorandum says: If I ever be rich enough, I shall place this over Enrichetta's remains at Louvain, and have her boy's body laid beside her. Poor child, that, if spared, might have inherited a princely state and fortune, he lies now in the pauper burial-ground at St. Michel. They let me, in consideration of what I had done in repairing their frescoes, place a wooden cross over him. I cut the inscription with my own hands-G. L. B., aged

Aged four years; he was born, I think, in '99- -the year after the rebellion in Ireland; this brings us nigh the date of his death. One moment. Let me note this." He hurriedly scratched off a few lines. "St. Michel; where is St. Michel? It may be a church in some town."

"Or it may be that village in Savoy, at the foot of the Alps."

"True! We shall try there."

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These are without interest; they are notes of sums paid on the road, or received for his labour. All were evidently leaves of a book, and torn out."

"What is this about Carlotta here?"

"Ah, yes. With this I send her all I had saved and put by. I knew he would ill-treat her; but to take her boy from her, - her one joy and comfort in life, and to send him away she knows not whither, his very name changed, is more than I believed possible. She says that Niccolo has been to England, and found means to obtain money from M. B.'"

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Montagu Bramleigh," muttered Sedley; but she read on:-"This is too base; but it explains why he stole all the letters in poor Enrichetta's box, and the papers that told of her marriage.'"

"Are we on the right track now?" cried the old lawyer, triumphantly. "This Baldassare was the father of the claimant, clearly enough. Enrichetta's child died, and the sister's husband substituted himself in his place."

"But this Niccolo who married Carlotta," said Julia, "must have been many years older than Enrichetta's son would have been had he lived."

'Who was to detect that? Don't you see that he never made personal application to the Bramleighs. He only addressed them by letter, which, knowing all Enrichetta's story, he could do without risk or danger. Kelson couldn't have been aware of this," muttered he; "but he had some misgivings - what were they?"

While the lawyer sat in deep thought, his face buried in his hands, Julia hurriedly turned over the papers. There were constant references to Carlotta's boy, whom the old man seemed to have loved tenderly; and different jottings showed how he had kept his birthday, which fell on the 4th of August. He was born at Zurich, where Baldassare worked as a watchmaker, his trade being, however, a mere mask to con

tor.

ceal his real occupation, that of a conspira-me that you will do this, for I leave Europe within a week, I shall return to it no more. Answer this Yes or No, at once, as I am about to quit this place. You know me well enough to know that I never threaten though I sometimes counsel, and my counsel now is, consent to the demand of - N. BALDASSARE.”

"No," said Sedley, raising his head at last, Kelson knew nothing of it. I'm certain he did not. It was a cleverly planned scheme throughout; and all the more so by suffering a whole generation to lapse before litigating the claim."

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But what is this here?" cried Julia, eagerly. It is only a fragment, but listen to it: There is no longer a doubt about it. Baldassare's first wife- a certain Marie de Pracontal-is alive, and living with her parents at Aix, in Savoy. Four of the committee have denounced him, and his fate is certain.

"I had begun a letter to Bramleigh, to expose the fraud this scoundrel would pass upon him; but why should I spare him who killed my child?'"

First of all," said Sedley, reading from his notes, 66 we have the place and date of Enrichetta's death; secondly, the burialplace of Godfrey Lami Bramleigh set down as St. Michel, perhaps in Savoy. We have then the fact of the stolen papers, the copies of registries, and other documents. The marriage of Carlotta is not specified, but it is clearly evident, and we can even fix the time; and, last of all, we have this second wife, whose name, Pracontal, was always borne by the present claimant."

And are you of opinion that this same Pracontal was a party to the fraud?" asked Julia.

Underneath was written in Lami's hand, "I will carry this to my grave, that I may curse him who wrote it here and hereafter."

“Now the story stands out complete," said Julia, and this Pracontal belonged to neither Bramleigh nor Lami."

"Make me a literal translation of that letter," said Sedley. "It is of more moment than almost all we have yet read. I do not mean now, Miss Julia," said he, seeing she had already commenced to write; "for we have these fragments still to look over."

While the lawyer occupied himself with drawing up a memorandum for his own guidance, Julia, by his directions, went carefully over the remaining papers: few were of any interest, but these she docketed accurately, and with such brevity and clearness combined, that Sedley, little given to compliments, could not but praise her skill. It was not till the day began to decline that their labours drew to a close. It was a day of intense attention and great work, but only when it was over did she feel the exhanstion of overwrought powers.

"You are very, very tired," said Sedley. "It" It was too thoughtless of me; I ought to have remembered how unused you must be to fatigue like this."

"I am not certain," muttered he. is not too clear; the point is doubtful." "But what have we here? It is a letter, with a post-mark on it." She read, “ Leghorn, February 8, 1812." It was addressed to the Illustrissimo Maestro Lami, Porta Rossa, Florence, and signed N. Baldassare. It was but a few lines, and ran thus:

Seeing that Carlotta and her child now sleep at Pisa, why deny me your interest for my boy Anatole? You know well to what he might succeed, and how. Be unforgiving to me if you will. I have borne as hard things even as your hatred, but the child that has never wronged you deserves no part of this hate. I want but little from you some dates, a few names that I know you remember, - and last of all, my mind refreshed on a few events which I have heard you talk of again and again. Nor is it for

"But I couldn't have left it; the interest was intense, and nothing would have persuaded me to leave the case without seeing how it ended."

"It will be necessary to authenticate these," said he, laying his hand on the papers, "and then we must show how we came by them."

"Jack can tell you this," said she; and now her strength failed her outright, and she lay back, overcome, and almost fainting. Sedley hurriedly rang for help, but before any one arrived Julia rallied, and with a faint smile said, "Don't make a fuss about me. You have what is really impor tant to occupy you. I will go and lie down till evening" and so she left him.