“Your friend Wilton of course suggested this proposition?” “He does not even dream of it,” was the reply. “On the contrary, he is most sanguine of shortly discovering the witness who can prove the validity of his mother’s marriage with his father. Certainly his chances of doing so are such as to bar any other claim to the property, until it is proved to the satisfaction of the Court that all his efforts have hopelessly failed. In the meantime, you have heavy liabilities approaching maturity. You best know what resources you possess to meet them, and if they are not unquestionable and beyond the reach of casualties, it seems to me you ought to leap with gladness at the chance of suddenly acquiring the wealth my suggestion would place within your reach.” Mr. Grahame thought for a moment; his present position was very ugly; still he could not bring himself to think a proposition so extraordinary as this would be made to him unless his chances of obtaining the property had, in some manner unknown to himself, materially improved. Now if he could elicit this, he would not, for an instant, hesitate to decline to accede to the terms, and with this object he commenced to cross-examine Nathan Gomer; but before he had completed a sentence a servant entered with a letter. Mr. Grahame recognised the superscription as his lawyer’s handwriting, and saying to Gomer hastily--“Pardon me,” he tore it open, and read its contents. They were to inform him that the managing clerk of the firm having returned, it was ascertained that he had not had the deed; it must, therefore, be unfortunately mislaid. Mr. Grahame was assured that prompt steps would be taken to recover it, but if they failed, the usual course to discover any article of importance, missing or stolen, would be adopted without the least loss of time. Mr. Grahame was aghast at this information. That the deed was lost or stolen was clear. In either case, his position was painfully embarrassing. The proposal of Nathan Gomer was, therefore, a harbour of refuge to be secured instanter to be secured at all; so he turned to him, and said, quickly-- “What reason have you to suppose that Wilton will meet your views, if he is in the position in this affair which you declare him to be?” “It is unnecessary to give my reason. Will you have an interview with him upon the subject?” “Oh--yes--yes--readily! When shall it take place?” “Now!” “Now?” “This minute, if you will. I know that he is at home.” “This is so sudden that”---- “I hardly imagine the possession of fifteen thousand a-year can occur too soon for your peace and safety, Mr. Grahame.” “Lead on, sir. I will accompany you.” Within five minutes from that time, Nathan Gomer and Mr. Grahame were ushered into Mr. Wilton’s library. The persecutor and the persecuted stood face to face. CHAPTER XVI.--SELFISHNESS AND SORROW. But most the proud Honoria fear’d th’ event,