"Mr. Sharp," said the peer, "I have sent for you to do me a little favour. I expect a man here who professes to give Mr. Beaufort, my brother-in-law, some information about a lawsuit. It is necessary to know the exact value of his evidence. I wish you to ascertain all particulars about him. Be so good as to seat yourself in the porter's chair in the hall; note him when he enters, unobserved yourself--but as he is probably a stranger to you, note him still more when he leaves the house; follow him at a distance; find out where he lives, whom he associates with, where he visits, their names and directions, what his character and calling are;--in a word, everything you can, and report to me each evening. Dog him well, never lose sight of him--you will be handsomely paid. You understand?" "Ah!" said Mr. Sharp, "leave me alone, my lord. Been employed before by your lordship's brother-in-law. We knows what's what." "I don't doubt it. To your post--I expect him every moment." And, in fact, Mr. Sharp had only just ensconced himself in the porter's chair when the stranger knocked at the door--in another moment he was shown in to Lord Lilburne. "Sir," said his lordship, without rising, "be so good as to take a chair. Mr. Beaufort is obliged to leave town--he has asked me to see you--I am one of his family--his wife is my sister--you may be as frank with me as with him,--more so, perhaps." "I beg the fauvour of your name, sir," said the stranger, adjusting his collar. "Yours first--business is business." "Well, then, Captain Smith." "Of what regiment?" "Half-pay." "I am Lord Lilburne. Your name is Smith--humph!" added the peer, looking over some notes before him. "I see it is also the name of the witness appealed to by Mrs. Morton--humph!" At this remark, and still more at the look which accompanied it, the countenance, before impudent and complacent, of Captain Smith fell into visible embarrassment; he cleared his throat and said, with a little hesitation,-- "My lord, that witness is living!" "No doubt of it--witnesses never die where property is concerned and imposture intended." At this moment the servant entered, and placed a little note, quaintly folded, before Lord Lilburne. He glanced at it in surprise--opened, and read as follows, in pencil,-- "My LORD,--I knows the man; take caer of him; he is as big a roge as ever stept; he was transported some three year back, and unless his time has been shortened by the Home, he's absent without leve. We used to call him Dashing Jerry. That ere youngster we went arter, by Mr. Bofort's wish, was a pall of his. Scuze the liberty I take. "J. SHARP." While Lord Lilburne held this effusion to the candle, and spelled his way through it, Captain Smith, recovering his self-composure, thus proceeded: