"The matters which we then discussed have suddenly acquired fearful importance. This paper occasions us, on your account, the profoundest anxiety." Mr. Aubrey continued silent, gazing on Mr. Parkinson with intensity. "Supposing, from a hasty glance at it, and from the message accompanying it, that it was merely another action of Tomkins's about the slip of waste land attached to Jolter's cottage, I sent up to London to my agents, Messrs. Runnington, requesting them to call on the plaintiff's attorneys, and settle the action. He did so; and--perhaps you will explain the rest," said Mr. Parkinson, with visible trepidation, to Mr. Runnington. "Certainly," said that gentleman, with a serious air, but much more calmly and firmly than Mr. Parkinson had spoken. "I called accordingly, early yesterday morning, on Messrs. Quirk, Gammon, and Snap--they are a very well--but not enviably--known firm in the profession; and in a few minutes my misconception of the nature of the business which I had called to arrange, was set right. In short"---- he paused, as if distressed at the intelligence which he was about to communicate. "Oh, pray, pray go on, sir!" said Mr. Aubrey, in a low tone. "I am no stranger, sir, to your firmness of character; but I shall have to tax it, I fear, to its uttermost. To come at once to the point--they told me that I might undoubtedly _settle_ the matter, if you would consent to give up immediate possession of _the whole Yatton estate_, and account for the mesne profits to their client, the right heir--as they contend--a Mr. Tittlebat Titmouse." Mr. Aubrey leaned back in his chair, overcome, for an instant, by this astounding intelligence; and all three of them preserved silence for more than a minute. Mr. Runnington was a man of a very feeling heart. In the course of his great practice he had had to encounter many distressing scenes; but probably none of them had equalled that in which, at the earnest entreaty of Mr. Parkinson, who distrusted his own self-possession, he now bore a leading part. The two attorneys interchanged frequent looks of deep sympathy for their unfortunate client, who seemed as if stunned by the intelligence they had brought him.