"This will revoking the former disposition, is fully forty years old; but it has never been recorded," said Mr. Hook. "And none know of its existence, save ourselves," added Mr. Crook suggestively; "and it is a dreadful thing to lose so fine an estate--so noble a heritage--by one stroke of a pen!" "But I quite agree with the young Laird, that some attempt should be made to do justice, and endeavour to trace out Mr. Philip or his heirs," said Mr. Hook, seeing in futurity a pyramid of three-and-fourpences and six-and-eightpences. "To advertise for the lost one would degrade my father's name!" exclaimed Roland passionately. "How else are we to go about it, my dear sir?" asked Mr. Hook, pulling his nether lip reflectively; "but enquiries might be made----" "Where?" "Well--a rumour did go about at one time that your uncle had married in Jamaica, Mexico, or somewhere." "I never heard of it." Neither had Mr. Hook, but he only threw out the hint to suggest difficulty and complication, and in his simplicity Roland rapidly adopted it. "Prosecute enquiries in both places," said he; "spare no money--collect and pay in the rents as usual--though not a penny of them shall come to me! You understand me, gentlemen?" They could better have understood his quietly putting alike the will and confession into the fire. Why had not his father done so, and spared Roland this season of shame and humiliation, of disappointment and sudden poverty? But his plans were adopted with decision and rapidity. "All the old servants will be retained as usual, gentlemen," said he, after a painful pause, during which a swelling seemed to have risen in his throat, "but no new ones will be engaged, and the whole revenue of the estate shall be paid into the bank for the benefit of the real heir, or of his children, if they can be found. I leave all in your hands." "But you must have some little income out of the estate!" said the astounded lawyers simultaneously. "Not a penny until I am proved to be indubitably the last and only Ruthven of Ardgowrie and that ilk!" exclaimed Roland with emotion. "My dear sir, you can't live on your pay," suggested Mr. Hook. "I will try." "No one does now-a-days. Nor will you be able to marry." "I do not mean to marry," said Roland, whose voice fairly broke as he thought of Aurelia Darnel; "but perhaps you may help me with a few pounds till I get exchanged into a regiment in India, for meantime I must rejoin the Royals." By this discovery in the Indian cabinet, Roland now learned bitterly why the old legend above the mantel-piece had become obnoxious to his father's eye, and been obliterated by his order! He looked at his family motto--the strongly apposite and ancient motto of the Ruthvens--_Facta Probant_, and muttered-- "That of Argyle would suit me better now!"