The gamekeeper’s cottage was ready for occupancy, but neither the mother nor the son would leave the suffering sinner to take possession of its comforts and emoluments. And Ran heartily excused them both under the circumstances and paid the man’s salary. Gentleman Geff had never been told of the death of his cousin, the Viscount Stoors. It was thought by his attendants that the news of the decease of a relative that left him, the dying sinner, heir presumptive of an earldom, would be, if not too sorrowful, certainly too startling, too exciting for the safety of an invalid, whose pulse must not be hurried in the slightest degree lest it should bring on a hemorrhage that must carry off the patient. One day, about this time, Montgomery rallied, and seemed so much better that the doctor allowed him to sit up in bed, propped by pillows. Mr. Campbell sat by him, reading aloud the morning’s paper, when Longman came in bringing a letter, which he placed in the hands of the rector. It was in a deep, black-bordered envelope, sealed with a broad black seal and directed to THE REV. JAMES CAMPBELL, Haymore Rectory, Haymore, Yorkshire. “Excuse me!” he said, and stepped quickly to the furthest window lest the sick man should see the herald of death. He opened and read the letter, which was from Abel Stout, the steward of Engelwode, and was as follows: “ENGELWODE CASTLE, “May 28, 187—. “REV. AND DEAR SIR: It is my painful duty to announce to you the decease of Charles-George-Francis-Henry, tenth earl of Engelmeed, who expired at one-fifteen this A. M., and of the succession of Capt. the Hon. Kightly Montgomery as eleventh earl. I inclose a letter, which I beg you to be so kind as to hand to his lordship, if my lord is still in your house, or to forward to his address if he should have left, as the presence of his lordship here is imperatively necessary. I have the honor to remain, reverend sir, “Your obedient servant, “ABEL STOUT.” The inclosed letter was superscribed very formally in full title to The Right Honorable THE EARL OF ENGELMEED. James Campbell stared at this superscription and then glanced at the wreck on the bed, who now bore the dignity of an earldom. He could not hesitate to deliver this letter, however it might affect his patient. He must deliver it! He had no choice. But what a shock! what a revelation! what a mockery it would now be to him!—to him who had sinned for wealth and rank, who had sold his birthright for a mess of pottage and found the dish—poisoned!