"Why, Tyrrel, or Martigny, as your lordship calls him," answered Jekyl, "will by no means listen to your lordship's proposition. He will not consent that Miss Mowbray's happiness shall be placed in your lordship's keeping; nay, it did not meet his approbation a bit the more, when I hinted at the acknowledgment of the marriage, or the repetition of the ceremony, attended by an immediate separation, which I thought I might venture to propose." "And on what grounds does he refuse so reasonable an accommodation?" said Lord Etherington--"Does he still seek to marry the girl himself?" "I believe he thinks the circumstances of the case render that impossible," replied his confidant. "What? then he would play the dog in the manger--neither eat nor let eat?--He shall find himself mistaken. She has used me like a dog, Jekyl, since I saw you; and, by Jove! I will have her, that I may break her pride, and cut him to the liver with the agony of seeing it." "Nay, but hold--hold!" said Jekyl; "perhaps I have something to say on his part, that may be a better compromise than all you could have by teasing him. He is willing to purchase what he calls Miss Mowbray's tranquillity, at the expense of his resignation of his claims to your father's honours and estate; and he surprised me very much, my lord, by showing me this list of documents, which, I am afraid, makes his success more than probable, if there really are such proofs in existence." Lord Etherington took the paper, and seemed to read with much attention, while Jekyl proceeded,--"He has written to procure these evidences from the person with whom they are deposited." "We shall see what like they are when they arrive," said Lord Etherington.--"They come by post, I suppose?" "Yes; and may be immediately expected," answered Jekyl. "Well--he is my brother on one side of the house, at least," said Lord Etherington; "and I should not much like to have him lagged for forgery, which I suppose will be the end of his bolstering up an unsubstantial plea by fabricated documents--I should like to see these same papers he talks of." "But, my lord," replied Jekyl, "Tyrrel's allegation is, that you _have_ seen them; and that copies, at least, were made out for you, and are in your possession--such is his averment."