"I know most people in good society, who now and then require a friend in the management of their affairs. And having made sure of the fact you stated, as to Hazeldean's contingent property, (excuse my prudence,) I have accommodated Madame di Negra, and bought up her debts." "You have--you surprise me!" "The surprise will vanish on reflection. But you are very new to the world yet, my dear Leslie. By the way, I have had an interview with Peschiera--" "About his sister's debts?" "Partly. A man of the nicest honour is Peschiera." Aware of Levy's habit of praising people for the qualities in which, according to the judgment of less penetrating mortals, they were most deficient, Randal only smiled at this eulogy, and waited for Levy to resume. But the Baron sate silent and thoughtful for a minute or two, and then wholly changed the subject. "I think your father has some property in ----shire, and you probably can give me a little information as to certain estates of a Mr Thornhill--estates which, on examination of the title-deeds, I find once, indeed, belonged to your family." The Baron glanced at a very elegant memorandum book--"The manors of Rood and Dulmonsberry, with sundry farms thereon. Mr Thornhill wants to sell them as soon as his son is of age--an old client of mine, Thornhill. He has applied to me on the matter. Do you think it an improvable property?" Randal listened with a livid cheek and a throbbing heart. We have seen that, if there was one ambitious scheme in his calculation which, though not absolutely generous and heroic, still might win its way to a certain sympathy in the undebased human mind, it was the hope to restore the fallen fortunes of his ancient house, and repossess himself of the long alienated lands that surrounded the dismal wastes of the mouldering hall. And now to hear that those lands were getting into the inexorable gripe of Levy--tears of bitterness stood in his eyes. "Thornhill," continued Levy, who watched the young man's countenance--"Thornhill tells me that that part of his property--the old Leslie lands--produces £2000 a-year, and that the rental could be raised. He would take £50,000 for it--£20,000 down, and suffer the remaining £30,000 to lie on mortgage at four per cent. It seems a very good purchase. What do you say?" "Don't ask me," said Randal, stung into rare honesty; "for I had hoped I might live to repossess myself of that property." "Ah! indeed. It would be a very great addition to your consequence in the world--not from the mere size of the estate, but from its hereditary associations. And if you have any idea of the purchase--believe me, I'll not stand in your way." "How can I have any idea of it?" "But I thought you said you had." "I understood that these lands could not be sold till Mr Thornhill's son came of age, and joined in getting rid of the entail."