that thing, or any thing that comes into his head; and he is mortally careless about his papers, and rather short of memory.

"The sort of man," pursued Sackville, "that would not remember whether you had told him a thing or not, and who, if you wrote to him a letter of business, probably would not read it through."

"Likely enough, Sir, by what I have seen of him."

"Well now, Allen, it strikes me that from your long acquaintance with him, having out of compliment offered him the first refusal of this estate, you might, by possibility, also think proper to give him a hint about the defectiveness of the title.

"I never did, I assure you, Sir."

"Well, well; but you might have done so; and if you had, Sir William might have totally forgotten it."

"Possibly, Sir," was Allen's answer.

"You wrote to him, I believe, on the subject?" "I did, Sir."

"Was your letter a long one?"

"Yes: I had many other things to mention, besides the Bloxwich business."

"So much the better. Now, Allen," pursued Sackville, "this letter he has destroyed. I made that discovery this morning at Lacy Park. The Bloxwich property happened accidentally to be mentioned, and he said he would have shown me your letter about it, if he had not unluckily burnt it."

"Well, Sir?" said Allen, rather drily.

"Oh, you shall soon be enlightened," continued Sackville. "I am coming rapidly to the point. Here is a long letter on business, written to a man notoriously inattentive, which letter he has since destroyed. Do you suppose he remembered half of it?"

"I should think not."

"Or could recollect what was or was not in the letter?"

Allen repeated his negative.

"Would he then be able to contradict a positive assertion respecting the contents of that letter? I say, for instance, that he is told that the letter which he destroyed, contained a hint respecting the defective title of the Bloxwich property, would he be able to deny it? or, not having the letter, could he rebut the assertion?"

"I should think not," replied Allen.

"I am glad that such is your opinion," resumed Sackville; "because this is the representation which, upon some favourable opportunity, I shall request you to make to Mr. Morton. I wish him to be led to think that Sir William Lacy had learned from you that the Bloxwich estate was not a desirable purchase. Nay, man, don't pretend to remonstrate: it must be done; you know that I have the means to enforce obedience, and am not the person to be trifled with," and, as he said these words, he directed towards the hesitating Allen, a short, stern, intimidating glance, which distinctly painted to his helpless tool the terrible ruthlessness with which he could exercise his power if irritated by resistance.

Allen cowered, abashed and trembling, beneath the influence of that glance.

"Well, Mr. Sackville," said he, with a deprecating shrug, "it is not for such as me to argue and advise; but it is a strange business, and, to tell you my mind, I don't at all like it. I shall offend a great many people, and get into all sorts of trouble. There are my employers for the Bloxwich property-they'll think it very strange in me to go and let out that secret about the title, to the first person it is offered to. Then there is Sir William

Lacy: I shall lose his favour, I am pretty sure, by going and telling lies about him. My Lord Rodborough will be angry that I didn't tell him as well as Sir William. And what is it all for? To breed dissensions between neighbours! A pretty employment for a man of my character!"

"Your character! Come, come, Allen! that must have been a slip of the tongue, or you forgot, perhaps, who you were talking to. Never fear, I'll carry you through; and as for solid recompense, you shall not want that, my honest fellow. Why, you are actually growing conscientious! It is a pity I am so pressed for time, or I would have let you carry on the joke. Breeding dissensions between neighbours! and such neighbours! such old and attached friends! Oh, it is really too. atrocious. However, Allen, joking apart, the thing positively must be done. The 'when' and the 'how' shall be told you hereafter. And now, I believe, I have said all that was necessary, and I shall depend upon your strict observance," and then, with a good-humoured smile, and a gracious inquiry after Allen's family, Sackville took up his hat and departed.

It will have appeared from the preceding dialogue, that Sackville had the means of exercising a strong control over Allen. He had in his possession a draft which Allen had forged in the name of Mrs. Denham, when in want of money several years ago. Mrs. Denham, out of a kind but mistaken spirit of lenity, had forborne to prosecute; but at the same time had, very inconsistently, kept both the forgery, and written confirmatory proofs of it, and they were found among her papers at the time of her death. Mrs. Denham, during her last illness, informed Sackville confidentially of this circumstance, and requested that the paper, if found, might be immediately destroyed, and that Allen might be al

lowed to escape with a suitable admonition. On the death of this lady the paper passed into the hands of Sackville, who was left her executor and residuary legatee. How far he had complied with her dying injunctions our readers have already seen.

CHAPTER XXI.

Sweet pliability of man's spirit that can, at once, surrender itself to illusions, which cheat expectation, and sorrow of their weary moments! STERNE.

We must now return to Herbert Lacy, whom we shall find looking forward, with the joyous anticipation of prosperous love, to the ball at Westcourt on the ensuing Wednesday, where he felt assured that he should again meet Agnes. His impatience, however, was not to be controlled, even by this promise of a speedy meeting;, and on the Monday he rode over to call at Dodswell. Unluckily every body was denied to him; and, therefore, the ball was still the goal to which his ardent hopes must be directed.

At length, Wednesday evening arrived, and a very short time seemed now to intervene between him and happiness. Lady Lacy had put in requisition the family diamonds; and, attired to the complete satisfaction of herself and maid, proceeded to require a decided answer from her vaccillating husband. Sir William had for many days been grumbling at intervals about the approaching ball, and now at length, when pressed for a decision, sturdily determined not to go.

"I think you had better," said Lady Lacy. "Why?" said Sir William, very drily.

"Why?" oh-why-because I think you will

like it."