"From the moment I was satisfied that you had any rights in my estate, I determined to grant them, let them be what they would. I was only half satisfied on this head when I offered you the twenty-five thousand dollars which you declined. I now believe that thirty thousand dollars are all to which you are entitled, and that I am willing you shall have, if you will take it and settle the matter forever." Malcolm could hardly believe that this was said in earnest. When satisfied that it was, the delight he felt was almost beyond expression. Harrison was perfectly sincere in all this. It was what he intended doing when he bargained with Dunbar for the admission of a flaw in his client's bill. He was a man of thoroughly honest principles, but eccentric in some things. The boldness of the proposition made by his lawyer was so startling that he told him to go on, merely because he was curious to see if such bold-faced iniquity could be practised by a member of the bar. Before he agreed to pay the sum named, he understood the relationship that existed between Dunbar and his ward, and conceived the idea of making him pay his own bribe, which he succeeded so well in doing. He ran some little risk, certainly; but he was a pretty shrewd man in his calculations, and rarely went very far wrong. On the day after the interview with Mr. Harrison, Malcolm called at the office of Mr. Dunbar. The lawyer met him with a scowl upon his brow. "I have one or two things to say to you, friend Dunbar," said Malcolm, seating himself. He spoke in a very cool manner. "In the first place, I believe a pretty large bill of costs accrued in the late suit against Harrison, and that I stood charged with the same." "Your memory is certainly accurate in the matter," returned the lawyer, with insult in his tone and manner. "That bill I wish you to settle in full," returned Malcolm, in a firm voice. "There is another matter," he continued, "that I wish also settled. During the progress of the suit, unnecessarily delayed as you know, my business became involved, and finally, by your direct agency, was entirely broken up. I am in debt on that account about two thousand dollars, which I wish you also to settle for me, and to do it forthwith." "Mr. Malcolm, will you leave my office instantly?" said the lawyer, smothering his excitement under a calmness of tone, and rising to his feet as he spoke.