"He lies," answered Lord Etherington, "so far as he pretends I know of such papers. I consider the whole story as froth--foam--fudge, or whatever is most unsubstantial. It will prove such when the papers appear, if indeed they ever will appear. The whole is a bully from beginning to end; and I wonder at thee, Jekyl, for being so thirsty after syllabub, that you can swallow such whipt cream as that stuff amounts to. No, no--I know my advantage, and shall use it so as to make all their hearts bleed. As for these papers, I recollect now that my agent talked of copies of some manuscripts having been sent him, but the originals were not then forthcoming; and I'll bet the long odds that they never are--mere fabrications--if I thought otherwise, would I not tell you?" "Certainly, I hope you would, my lord," said Jekyl; "for I see no chance of my being useful to you, unless I have the honour to enjoy your confidence." "You do--you do, my friend," said Etherington, shaking him by the hand; "and since I must consider your present negotiation as failed, I must devise some other mode of settling with this mad and troublesome fellow." "No violence, my lord," said Jekyl, once more, and with much emphasis. "None--none--none, by Heaven!--Why, thou suspicious wretch, must I swear, to quell your scruples?--On the contrary, it shall not be my fault, if we are not on decent terms." "It would be infinitely to the advantage of both your characters if you could bring that to pass," answered Jekyl; "and if you are serious in wishing it, I will endeavour to prepare Tyrrel. He comes to the Well or to the ordinary to-day, and it would be highly ridiculous to make a scene." "True, true; find him out, my dear Jekyl, and persuade him how foolish it will be to bring our family quarrels out before strangers, and for their amusement. They shall see the two bears can meet without biting.--Go--go--I will follow you instantly--go, and remember you have my full and exclusive confidence.--Go, half-bred, startling fool!" he continued, the instant Jekyl had left the room, "with just spirits enough to ensure your own ruin, by hurrying you into what you are not up to.--But he has character in the world--is brave--and one of those whose countenance gives a fair face to a doubtful business. He is my creature, too--I have bought and paid for him, and it would be idle extravagance not to make use of him--But as to confidence--no confidence, honest Hal, beyond that which cannot be avoided. If I wanted a confidant, here comes a better than thou by half--Solmes has no scruples--he will always give me money's worth of zeal and secrecy _for_ money." His lordship's valet at this moment entered the apartment, a grave, civil-looking man, past the middle age, with a sallow complexion, a dark thoughtful eye, slow, and sparing of speech, and sedulously attentive to all the duties of his situation. "Solmes,"--said Lord Etherington, and then stopped short.