"To be sure," confidently added Snap; who having devoted himself exclusively all his life to the sharpest practice of the criminal law, knew about as much of real property law as a snipe--but it would not have done to appear ignorant, or taking no part in the matter, in the presence of the heir-at-law, and the future great client of the House. "Well, Mr. Titmouse," at length said Mr. Quirk, with a sort of grunt, laying aside his glasses--"if _you_ turn out to be the Titmouse we have been speaking of, you are likely, through our immense exertions, to become one of the luckiest men that ever lived! We may be mistaken, but it appears to us that we shall by and by be able to put you into possession of a very fine estate in Yorkshire, worth some £10,000 or £12,000 a-year at the least!" "You--don't--say--so!" exclaimed Titmouse, elevating his hands and opening his eyes with amazement--"Oh, gents, I do believe we're all dreaming! Is it all true, indeed?" "It is, Mr. Titmouse--and we are very proud and happy indeed to be the honored instruments of establishing your rights, my dear sir," said Mr. Gammon, in a most impressive manner. "Then all the money that's been spent this ten or twelve years has been _my_ money, has it?" "_If_ we are right, it is undoubtedly as you say," answered Mr. Quirk, giving a quick apprehensive glance at Mr. Gammon. "Then there'll be a jolly reckoning for some one, shortly--eh? My stars!" "My dear Mr. Titmouse," said Mr. Gammon, gravely, "you have no more than a just regard for your own interests. There _will_ be a reckoning, and a very terrible one ere long, for somebody--but we've a vast deal to go through, and a vast deal of money to be spent, before we come to discuss _that_ matter! Only let us have the unspeakable happiness of seeing you once fairly in possession of your estates, and our office shall know no rest till you have got all you may be entitled to--even to the uttermost farthing!" "Oh, never fear our letting them rest!" said Mr. Quirk, judiciously accommodating himself to the taste and apprehension of his excited auditor--"Those that must give up the goose, must give up the giblets also--ha, ha, ha!" Messrs. Gammon and Snap echoed the laugh, duly tickled with the joke of the head of the firm. "Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Mr. Titmouse, immensely excited by the conjoint influence of the brandy, and the news of the night; "capital! capital! hurrah! Such goings on there will be! You're all of the right sort, gents, I see! 'Pon my life, law for ever! There's _nothing_ like it! Let's all shake hands, gents! Come, if you please, all together! all friends to-night!" And the little fellow grasped each of the three readily-proffered right hands of Messrs. Quirk, Gammon, and Snap, with an energy that was likely to make all the high contracting parties to that quadruple alliance, remember its ratification.