grey eyes which seemed to ask, with a curse, of any one entering, "why d'ye interrupt me?" When Mr Pounce and Mr Runnington entered his room-which was covered with papers and open books-the Doctor was settling, in furore, Articles extending over many hundred folios, against an unhappy curate, flourishing on forty pounds a-year in Rutlandshire, "touching and concerning his soul's health, and the lawful correction and reformation of his manners and excesses," (such was the solemn and affectionate strain in which the reverend delinquent was addressed,) for having refused to baptize a child by the name of "JUDAS ISCARIOT" -that being the name desired to be given to his infant by a blasphemous little Radical cobbler, a chattering infidel, who sought, by that means, to evince his insane hatred of the Christian religion. Now, Dr Flare was himself an ardent friend of the church, and a sincere Christian: but by virtue of the quality I have before alluded to, he had brought himself to look upon this poor clergyman as guilty of a most flagrant piece of wickedness; and was forging, con amore, the bolt to be presently levelled at so enormous an offender. But a few minutes before their arrival, moreover, an incident had occurred to the Doctor which had roused him into a kind of frenzy: he had been interrupted by an applicant to be sworn to some matter or other, for which the Doctor was entitled to the usual fee of one shilling. The deponent had only half-a-crown; so the Doctor had to take out his purse, and give him the difference, (eighteenpence,) with a muttered curse: and you may guess the scene that ensued on the deponent's presently returning, and requesting that the sixpence which the Doctor had given him might be changed, being a bad one!—Mr Runnington was prepared to go fully into his case before Doctor Flare; but on catching sight of him, he looked so startling a contrast to the calm and affable Sir Charles Wolstenholme—so like a hyena squatting in his den—that his heart suddenly failed him; and after observing, that instead of interrupting the Doctor at that time, he would immediately lay a written case before him, he and Mr Pounce made their escape into the open air; the former looking so relieved of apprehension, that Mr Pounce almost died with laughter. But it occurred to Mr Runnington, that in the present stage of the business, Mr Pounce was just as satisfactory an adviser as Dr Flare could be—and he

determined upon being guided by Mr Pounce, whom he immediately instructed to retain Dr Flare; and then talked over the whole case, in all its bearings-the result being, that Mr Pounce entirely corroborated the view taken by Sir Charles Wolstenholme, and pointed out so clearly and forcibly the peculiar advantages attending the contemplated mode of procedure, that Mr Runnington nearly made up his mind on the spot, to venture on the experiment; but at all events, undertook to give his final decision within twenty-four hours' time. The next morning, however, he received information from Mr Pounce, which was calculated to quicken his motions; viz. that Mr Titmouse was moving, and had just "warned the caveat," with a view to discovering who his opponent was, and what was the ground of his opposition. Now, this chanced to occur on the very day of Lord De la Zouch's arrival in London; his servant calling at Mr Runnington's office with a note requesting his attendance in Dover Street, within a few hours of Mr Runnington's receiving intelligence of the movement of Mr Titmouse. The result of a very long and animated discussion between Mr Runnington and Lord De la Zouch was, that his lordship acquiesced in the expediency of the course suggested to him, namely, to suspend for a month or two carrying into effect the scheme which he had formed for extricating Mr Aubrey from all his liabilities—since the proceedings about to be instituted in the ecclesiastical court might possibly render unnecessary the very large pecuniary sacrifice contemplated by his lordship, by disentitling Mr Titmouse to receive any part of the demand he was at present enforcing against Mr Aubrey. His lordship then gave a carte blanche to Mr Runnington, and authorized him instantly to commence, and most vigorously prosecute every proceeding that might be necessary to spare no expense or exertion—to give and take no quarter; for Lord De la Zouch expressed the warmest indignation at the whole conduct of Mr Gammon— particularly his presumptuous advances towards Miss Aubrey, and the audacious measures he had resorted to for the purpose of securing her favour. His lordship also felt, in common with Sir Charles Wolstenholme and Mr Runnington, that Mr Gammon's avowal to Miss Aubrey of his absolute control over the enjoyment of the Yatton property, warranted the suspicion that

the vigorous proceedings about to be instituted would lead to the most important results. Thus fortified, Mr Runnington immediately gave instructions to Mr Pounce to proceed; and that person at once entered formally into battle with his brother proctor Mr QUOD, who was acting for Mr Titmouse. Supposing it to be all a very simple straightforward affair on the part of Mr Titmouse, Mr Quod did not give himself any particular concern about the step taken by Mr Pounce, and with which he did not acquaint Mr Gammon, till that gentleman called to enquire in what state the proceedings were; and when he found the ground taken by Mr Aubrey, and that it would compel Mr Titmouse to prove over again every link in the chain which connected him with the elder branch of the Aubrey family, he was not a little agitated, though he made a great effort to conceal it, while listening to Mr Quod's account of the process about to be commenced. Each party, it seemed, would have to give in to the court "an allegation," or statement of the pedigree he intended to establish, and which would be lodged at the registry. Each would then, in due course, obtain a copy of his opponent's allegation, in order to guide him in framing his own proof and interrogatories. A COMMISSION would then be sent by the court into the county where the witnesses resided, to examine them—the examiner being an officer of the court, a proctor and representing the court in the proceeding. This officer having been furnished by the parties with a copy of the two allegations, the names of the witnesses, and the interrogatories, would proceed to examine the witnesses; but in a manner very different from any adopted by the courts of law-viz. one by one, alone, secretly, and in the most searching and thorough manner; and having given his or her evidence, the witness would be formally threatened with the terrors of the ecclesiastical court, if he or she should presume to disclose to any person, much less the parties, the evidence that had been extracted by the examiner. When the whole of the evidence had been in this mysterious way collected, it would be lodged in the proper office of the court; and till the arrival of the proper time for "publication passing," i. e. permitting both parties to take copies of the evidence-they would be in total ignorance as to the exact nature of the evidence which had been given by even their

own witnesses. Mr Quod added, that the briefs which had been used at the trial of the action of ejectment, would of themselves furnish almost the entire "allegations," and greatly facilitate and accelerate the proceedings.

"Then, do the parties, or their proctors, go down beforehand to the spot where the commission is to be held ?”

"Oh yes, both parties, of course-Pounce and I shall be both at work down there, rummaging registries, records, churchyards-brushing up every man, woman, and child, that's got a word to say on the subject-warm work, warm work, Mr Gammon! We sha'n't leave a stone unturned on either side! Lord, I recollect a case, for instance, where a marriage passed muster in all your common-law courts, one after the other; but as soon as it got into our hands—ah, ha !—we found out that it was no marriage at all! and some thirty or forty thousand a-year changed hands! What d'ye think of that?" said Mr Quod, rubbing his hands, with a pleased and confident air, that strangely contrasted with the reserved and disconcerted manner of his companion, who, in fact, had been thrown into a cold perspiration by what he had heard.

"Pounce," continued Quod, "is a keen hand, but I know one that's not afraid of him any day! But I'm sorry they've secured Dr Flare, I own

"Ah, well, that can't be helped now, you know. Good-day, Mr Quod," said Gammon with a sickly smile, "I shall be with you about this time to-morrow, to make arrangements." And with this he withdrew.

"Curse Lady Stratton-her will-her policy-every thing connected with the old creature," said Gammon to himself vehemently, as he sat that evening alone, in his chamber, meditating upon this most unexpected turn which the thing had taken; "nothing but vexation, and disappointment, and danger, by Heaven!-attends every move I make in her accursed affairs! Was there ever such a twist, for instance, as this? Who could have dreamed of it? it not lead to ?" Here he got up hastily, and walked for some minutes to and fro. "By Heavens, it won't do! We must give it up

too!

What may

without a con

Yet that's throwing away a clear twenty thousand pounds,
And Titmouse will be kicking, too, at that! But I'll

quickly silence him!" Another pause. "Stay-stay-that won't do either! Oh, murder, no!—not for a moment! What will they not conclude from our sudden striking? Of course, that our case is rotten-that we dare not bring Titmouse's pedigree again into the light; and, besides, by relinquishing to them so large a sum, shall we not be putting weapons into their hands against ourselves? Ay, to be sure! So, by here we are in for it whether we will or not-and no escape!" The latter words he uttered aloud, at the same time snapping his fingers with a desperate air; and then, throwing himself down upon the sofa, he continued for a long time in a state of most direful perplexity and alarm. Then another thought occurred to him. "Suppose that one were to sound Aubrey or Runnington on the subject, and tell them that I have prevailed on Titmouse to withdraw his claim to administer-in consideration of the moral certainty there is that Lady Stratton intended they should have her property-Bah! that won't do! They'd never believe us! But who the deuce is finding the funds for such a serious contest as this? Runnington has no doubt got some of Aubrey's friends to come forward and make a last experiment on his behalf. But why take this particular move?" He drew a long breath, and every particle of colour fled from his cheek. "Alas! alas! I now see it all. Miss Aubrey has betrayed me ! She has told to her brother-to Runnington-what, in my madness, I mentioned to her! That explains all! Yes, you beautiful fiend, it is your hand that has commenced the work of destruction as you suppose!"

Neither Lord De la Zouch nor Mr Runnington saw any necessity for hesitating to apprize Mr Aubrey of the steps they meditated taking on his behalf, as soon as they had come to the determination above recited, and which, of course, it became necessary that he should distinctly sanction. During the course, therefore, of the day after that on which their determination had been taken, at Lord De la Zouch's desire, Mr Runnington undertook to make the important communication to Mr Aubrey. For a while he seemed to stagger under the weight of intelligence of such magnitude; and it was some time before he recovered calmness of feeling sufficient to appreciate the nature and consequences of the meditated step-viz. a direct and imme