"He is also prepared to show that you so far recognized the strength of his claim, that in Cincinnati you endeavored to destroy the written confession alluded to, and that on a later occasion you entered into a conspiracy with one Hugh Trimble to murder him, promising the said Trimble one thousand dollars for so doing. To this Hugh Trimble is ready to swear, having repented his wicked compact, and enlisted himself on the side of my client. _Though we feel that exposure and punishment for this wicked plot should justly be visited upon you, we agree to keep it secret provided you interpose no obstacle to the immediate surrender to my client of the property at present unjustly withheld from him._ It is desirable that you come to St. Louis at once, and settle this matter. "Yours, respectfully, "ANTHONY BATES." When James Grey reached the conclusion of this letter he realized that his plot had completely failed. His tool had turned against him, and he was in the power of his nephew. There was but one answer to make to this proposition. _He dared not refuse it!_ He started immediately for St. Louis, and wended his way to the lawyer's office. He feared he should find his nephew there, but was relieved to find himself alone with Mr. Bates. "To what decision have you come, Mr. Grey?" asked the lawyer. "What terms do you offer?" "Silence, provided you surrender the estate at once." "It will render me penniless." "At what do you estimate the value of the estate?" "One hundred and fifty thousand dollars." "This is about the figure at which my client estimated it. I am authorized by him to offer you ten thousand dollars in hand, and an annual income of two thousand dollars upon the acknowledgment without delay of the rightfulness of his claim." It was more than Mr. Grey hoped for. He judged his nephew by himself, and doubted, especially after his attempt upon his life, whether he would not leave him to the bitterness of utter poverty. "I accept the terms," he said, briefly. "Then the proper papers shall be made out at once." Now that Mr. Grey offered no further opposition, there was no further cause of delay. An hour later, Gilbert had in his possession the legal document which restored him to his rights, and made him a rich man. His uncle received in exchange a paper, assuring to him the provision which Gilbert had generously made. Armed with this, he went home without seeing his nephew. He was ashamed to face the lad whom he had so basely defrauded, and still more basely sought to slay. When Jasper, to whom he had said nothing of the motive of his journey, met him, he at once detected the trouble in his father's manner. "What is the matter, father?" he inquired. "All is lost, Jasper," said his father. "What do you mean?" "Gilbert has triumphed, and I am a comparative beggar." "Then what is to become of me?" demanded Jasper, thunder-struck.