A minute afterwards Mary was seen tripping down the street to the news-room to summon the captain. He had gone there to read the account just received of Lord Duncan's great victory at Camperdown. "Oh, sir!" exclaimed Mary, as she saw the captain, "it is happy news, sir, happy news, better news than that about the battle. The French captain has come back and brought two old country people with him, and Madam Everard says we shall all get back to Stanmore." Mr. Wallace was in the room at the time, and the captain, scarcely crediting the news, begged the lawyer to accompany him home. "The evidence is complete," observed Mr. Wallace, after he had looked over the document brought by Captain Rochard, and by the help of that gentleman had examined the old French people. "We can go with perfect confidence of victory into a court of law, should Mr. Sleech venture to oppose the claims of Captain Everard." "I trust that everything may be done in a peaceable way," observed Madam Everard. "I cannot pretend to have any regard for that unhappy man, Mr. Sleech, though his children are, it must be owned, my nephews and nieces. I trust, however, that he will yield without opposition." Mr. Wallace promised to manage matters in as gentle a way as possible, and that no time might be lost, he set out forthwith for Stanmore. Paul Gauntlett, who very soon heard what was taking place, begged to accompany him. "No, no," said the lawyer. "You, my friend, are a man of war. We will call you in if it is necessary to proceed by ejectment, but at present I hope the enemy will capitulate without an assault." The answer satisfied Paul. At that moment Dr. Jessop looked in to pay a professional visit to Mabel. "I think she scarcely requires your services, doctor," observed Madam Everard; "but if you, as a friend of the family, will accompany Mr. Wallace, perhaps you may be able to aid him in his delicate and somewhat painful mission." "Come, brother physic, come along then," said Mr. Wallace, as they stepped into the carriage which had brought the party from Sea View Cottage. "The sooner this matter is settled the better." Mr. Sleech was seated in his study in a flowery dressing-gown, the hairdresser from Lynderton having just curled and powdered his peruke, when a footman in the Stanmore livery, which he had lately assumed, announced the lawyer and doctor. "What can they want with me?" he exclaimed. "Really, a man of rank and position can scarcely call his time his own. Let them in, however." At that moment the Misses Sleech and one of their brothers came in from the grounds. "Papa," exclaimed the young Mr. Sleech, "those fellows have not cut down another tree. They say they don't mind putting the fences in order and digging out the ditches, but that not one of them will lay an axe to a root." "Impertinent fellows!" exclaimed Mr. Sleech. "I will see how they dare disobey me." At that moment the visitors entered the room.