"Then allow me to congratulate Lord Arlingford on his accession to his family title and estates, but I hope, as I do so, that he will not object to take the name of Ashurst. We have made quick work of it. From information I received, I was induced to go down and see the _ci-devant_ Lord Arlingford. I found him very ill and without a particle of combativeness, so I told him of all the information I possessed, and gave him his choice to contest the point, assuring him that we had unlimited supplies at command, or to yield at once, and save a family scandal. As he appeared inclined to take my advice, I promised him an annuity of a thousand a year, knowing from his circumstances that he was not likely to enjoy even so much as that should he retain his title. He immediately accepted my offer, acknowledging that your claim was valid. Of course I made my offer subject to the approval of the true Lord Arlingford. There must be a trial _pro forma_, legally to settle the point, but it will prove a very short one." It was some little time before Owen could recover his equanimity sufficiently to eat his dinner; but fortunately midshipmen are not given, under any circumstances, to loss of appetite, and he was very soon himself again. Little more need be said. Mr Fluke bore all the expenses of the trial, which proved without doubt that Owen Hartley was the rightful possessor of the Arlingford title and estates. Indeed, on the death of his cousin, which occurred while the trial was going forward, no other claimant appearing, Owen immediately came into peaceful possession. Mr Fluke insisted on paying off all the mortgages, so that Owen might commence his new career free of incumbrances. "Begin, my dear boy, out of debt, and never get into it," said the old man; "you'll never regret following that rule, whatever else you may be sorry for." Owen's first care was to appoint a good man of business to look after the estate, and, as may be supposed, he selected David Rowe, whose brother John became his head bailiff. His old shipmates, Captain Leigh and Lieutenant Langton, were his frequent guests whenever they came on shore. On the death of his kind relative, Simon Fluke, Mrs Kezia and Joseph Crump came down, the one to become his housekeeper and the other his head gardener. "I hope you will find no tom cat to kill at Arlingford, Mrs Kezia!" said Owen, laughing, as she made her appearance. "Please your lordship, I don't think there'll be any need," she answered. Indeed Owen had never the slightest cause to complain of presumption, nor had Lady Arlingford--for by this time Owen was possessed of a fair young wife, who ruled as mistress of Arlingford Hall.