"Oh! You gave him a watch, I am to understand?" "Yes, with a chain made out of nuggets. The case was made of gold I found. I sent it because the old man always girded at my father for gold-hunting, and it was to show him what we could do. But will you not sit down, ladies?" he added, with a rather rough, but natural courtesy. "Perhaps you will take a seat, too, sir," said the old lawyer, who was impressed favourably by his visitor's manner, and felt a lingering hope that his tale might be true, though all the while upon his guard against imposition. "I will with pleasure, for I am tired. Stop a moment?" he cried excitedly; "I recollect that old girl. She used to take lumps of sugar, melt them in a wax-candle, and let yellow drops of the sweet fall on a piece of writing-paper. You ask her presently. By Jove!" he cried laughingly, "think of my remembering that." Gertrude's heart gave a great throb, and she dared not meet the frank, merry eyes directed at her. "Humph?" ejaculated the lawyer, scanning the face before him narrowly, and always to be met by a frank, manly look. "I find I am supposed to be wrong, then, about the watch?" "Oh, yes, sir, you were wrong there. Why, by Jove! the old man wrote and told me he should leave me that watch." "There was the series of remittances then, sir," continued the lawyer. "You will allow, then, that the late Mr Harrington made you an allowance?" "I agree that this is a trap, Mr Lawyer," said the young man; "but that was a thoroughly confidential matter, upon which we will not speak. Yes; have it your way if you like--the old man used to keep me." "Humph! I wish my co-executor was here," said the lawyer, after a pause. "So do I, sir, if it would simplify matters. All this is very unpleasant, of course." "More so, sir, than you imagine." "Well, pray tell me what to do. Here have I come to claim my heritage and my--I beg pardon," he said quickly, with an admiring look at Gertrude, "my wife and my heritage, and the lady does not so much as shake hands with me." Gertrude, in spite of herself, gave him an apologetic look. "And you treat me as if I were a scoundrel." "I am compelled to look upon your claim, sir, with suspicion." "Well, sir, you are a lawyer; perhaps you will let me retain your services on my behalf." "Certainly not, sir. You are attacking, I am for the defence." "Very well then, sir, I must get another advocate, I suppose, and oust you from your position." He paused for a few moments, and looked fixedly at Gertrude, and his gaze intensified, not in boldness, but in respectful ardour, as he slowly rose, and, with a sigh of satisfaction, held out his hand to her.