“I am come,” said Sir Arthur, “to enjoy that kind of domestic life in the country which I prefer to all others, and amongst people whose happiness I hope to increase.” At this speech the attorney changed his ground, flattering himself that he should find his man averse to business, and ignorant of country affairs. He talked of the value of land, and of new leases. Sir Arthur wished to enlarge his domain, and to make a ride round it. A map of it was lying upon the table, and Farmer Price’s garden came exactly across the new road for the ride. Sir Arthur looked disappointed; and the keen attorney seized the moment to inform him that “Price’s whole land was at his disposal.” “At my disposal! how so?” cried Sir Arthur, eagerly; “it will not be out of lease, I believe, these ten years. I’ll look into the rent roll again; perhaps I am mistaken.” “You are mistaken, my good sir, and you are not mistaken,” said Mr. Case, with a shrewd smile. “In one sense, the land will not be out of lease these ten years, and in another it is out of lease at this present time. To come to the point at once, the lease is, ab origine, null and void. I have detected a capital flaw in the body of it. I pledge my credit upon it, sir, it can’t stand a single term in law or equity.” The attorney observed, that at these words Sir Arthur’s eye was fixed with a look of earnest attention. “Now I have him,” said the cunning tempter to himself. “Neither in law nor equity,” repeated Sir Arthur, with apparent incredulity. “Are you sure of that, Mr. Case?” “Sure! As I told you before, sir, I’d pledge my whole credit upon the thing—I’d stake my existence.” “_That’s something_,” said Sir Arthur, as if he was pondering upon the matter. The attorney went on with all the eagerness of a keen man, who sees a chance at one stroke of winning a rich friend, and of ruining a poor enemy. He explained, with legal volubility and technical amplification, the nature of the mistake in Mr. Price’s lease. “It was, sir,” said he, “a lease for the life of Peter Price, Susanna his wife, and to the survivor or survivors of them, or for the full time and term of twenty years, to be computed from the first day of May then next ensuing. Now, sir, this, you see, is a lease in reversion, which the late Sir Benjamin Somers had not, by his settlement, a right to make. This is a curious mistake, you see, Sir Arthur; and in filling up those printed leases there’s always a good chance of some flaw. I find it perpetually; but I never found a better than this in the whole course of my practice.” Sir Arthur stood in silence. “My dear sir,” said the attorney, taking him by the button, “you have no scruple of stirring in this business?” “A little,” said Sir Arthur.