"Mr. Fitzherbert, fortunately, was less delicate with me, Mrs. Catherine," said Mr. Foreman. "Mr. Sutherland, Madam, is in treaty for the sale of Strathoran--for some portion of the estate, at least, and this gentleman is commissioned to report upon it, as he tells me, before the bargain is completed." "Not fair--against all principles of honor," exclaimed Mr. Fitzherbert. "A mis-statement, Madam, I assure you; merely some shooting-grounds. Mr. Sutherland is no sportsman himself, and my friend, Lord Gillravidge, is a keen one. Amicable exchange--nothing more." Mrs. Catherine stood firmly erect; gazing into the blank air. The shock was great to her; for some moments she neither moved nor spoke. "I appeal to yourself, Madam," resumed the stranger. "_I_ investigate farms and fields. I, fresh from the most refined circles: do I look like a person to report upon clods and cattle?" The voice startled Mrs. Catherine from her fixed gravity. "I will come to you by-and-by, Mr. Foreman," she said. "Gather the story as clear as may be--at present, I cannot be troubled with strangers." A slight, emphatic motion of her hand conveyed her desire that the friend and emissary of Lord Gillravidge should be dismissed as speedily as possible, and turning, she left the room. "Spoilt it all," exclaimed Fitzherbert, as the door closed, "never have any commerce with lawyers--bad set--Scotch especially--keen--ill-natured. What harm would it have done you, old gentleman, if I had pleased the old lady about her nephew, and got her, perhaps, to come down with something handsome? I always like to serve friends myself--wanted to put in a good word for Sutherland--but it's all spoiled now." "You expect to see more of Strathoran, I suppose," said Mr. Foreman; "good sport on the moor, they tell me, Mr. Fitzherbert, and you say Lord Gillravidge is a keen sportsman." "Keen in most things," said the stranger, with an emphatic nod. "Sharp--not to be taken in--simple Scotch lad no match for Gillravidge--serves him right, for thinking he was. But I say, old gentleman, don't be ill-natured and tell the aunt--let him have a fresh start." "It is to be a sale, then?" said the lawyer, "is your friend really to buy Strathoran?" The stranger laughed contemptuously. "Has Sutherland got anything else, that you ask that? all the purchase money's gone already--nothing coming your way, old gentleman--all the more cruelty in you preventing me from speaking a good word for him to his aunt." "Was the bargain concluded when you left?" said Mr. Foreman. "Very near it," was the reply. "Why, he's been plunging on deeper in Gillravidge's debt every night. _I_ say it was uncommonly merciful to think of taking the land--an obscure Scotch place, with nothing but the preserves worth looking at; but Gillravidge knows what he's about."