for you, for I can hardly think now but that there must be some mistake."

A long and careful consultation was then held, which lasted for some hours, when Mr. Soland returned to London. The result of these deliberations will be related in the forthcoming chapter.

CHAPTER XV.

A DISCOVERY.

"The danger is past, as soon as you have burned the letter." Letter to Lord Monteagle.

IN consequence of the near approach of the assizes, it became necessary that steps should speedily be taken to rescue Mortimer from the danger which hung over him, if indeed, an event so fortunate were within the limits of possibility. It had been agreed upon by Mr. Soland and the prisoner, in the consultation mentioned at the close of our last chapter, that the former should procure an interview with Priminheere the prosecutor, and propose, (so great was the emergency,) that Byrdwood should be surrendered, upon condition of his foregoing the charge. Mr. Soland was not backward ́in executing this mission, and he accordingly waited upon the powerful magistrate, invested with full authority on the part of Mortimer, to make the painful sacrifice of the much loved and much coveted estate. This arrangement, he was fond enough to hope, might be the more easily accomplished, inasmuch as a debt of five thousand pounds still remained due in respect of the old mortgage, in consequence of the valueless notes which Priminheere had received. Here then would be an opportunity of gaining possession of the property, and extinguishing the incumbrance on the one side, and of saving the life of an unhappy youth on the other.

Priminheere, though he strove as far as possible to conceal his real sentiments, was struck with the proposal; he talked indeed about the public welfare, the heinousness of the crime which had been perpetrated, the risks and illegality of compounding a felony; but the suggestion of Mr. Soland sunk at once deeply into his mind. That wary lawyer saw that he had gained an ad

vantage, though he feared that the boon sought for was too great to be so easily obtained. But Priminheere set so high a value upon the tender which had been made him, that before Mr. Soland's departure, he pledged himself that the matter should not be carried further; and on Mortimer's part, the secure and immediate possession of Byrdwood, together with all the deeds, for which he specially stipulated, were promised him. The possibility, nay the probability, that the Bank would refuse to be a party to any such compromise, never occurred to the impatient magistrate, nor did he reckon much upon the legal penalties which might attend such a dereliction of his duty as a citizen. Accustomed of late to succeed in all his pursuits, and to bear rule over all with whom he had to do, Priminheere blindly hastened into the arrangement; and Mr. Soland with equal precipitation, deemed that the affair was concluded and his friend safe. That a practitioner so keen and experienced as he undoubtedly was, should have committed such an oversight, can only be attributed to the extreme anxiety under which he was labouring, and his confidence in the promises of Priminheere; certain it is, that he was swayed upon this occasion by one feeling alone, which was to save Mortimer at all hazards, from the imminent danger of his situation.

We must now carry the reader forward to the week before Mortimer's trial. Notwithstanding the most strenuous efforts on the part of Priminheere, the Bank determined that an offender, who had in their judgment been deemed worthy of prosecution, should not thus suddenly evade the arm of justice. He was complimented for his supposed humanity, but received information at the same time, that the Bank had taken up the matter, and that the criminal could not be allowed to go unpunished. Priminheere found himself involved in a fresh difficulty; and whilst he was designing a new plan for accomplishing the object of his wishes, he was surprised by a visit from no other than Albert Moonshine.

Albert had been pondering very much upon the melancholy event which had happened in his neighbourhood, and having for some time thrown aside every hostile feeling towards Mortimer, he now felt as strong an interest in his behalf as the indolence of his nature would allow. We may recollect, that Jones the black

smith made mention of some papers which the village Squire had been known to have picked up some years since. Albert remembered that these were of no slight importance, as far as the mortgage on Byrdwood was concerned, and he supplicated his mother, that she would make a search for the desired documents. At length after a diligent ransacking of every letter and parcel which Mrs. Moonshine possessed, two or three papers were discovered, bound up with red tape, which in the minds both of the lady and her son, threw very considerable light upon the subject. The following letter however, from Dell and Head, the lawyers to the late Mr. Mortimer, was of a nature which could not fail to excite surprise in the most indifferent.

SIR,

"We beg to acknowledge your check for 10721., the amount of a mortgage effected by you, upon Byrdwood House. We will see to the application of the money, and to the due cancelment of the deed by the present mortgagee. With many thanks for your prompt attention to us, We remain, Sir,

"Your faithful and obliged humble servants,
"DELL and HEAD."

Signed, "April, 22, 1815."

It will be recollected, that the parties whose names were subscribed, acted at that time as solicitors for Mr. Mortimer; and it 'therefore became their duty, after payment of the mortgage money, to possess themselves of the security.

Moonshine declared that he would immediately carry this letter to Priminheere; and in spite of his mother's remonstrances, he snatched up his hat with unprecedented industry, and hastened to the dwelling of the much dreaded magistrate, as we have above related.

Priminheere received the Squire with great coldness. The rebuke which Albert had given him when solicited to oppose Mortimer at the Borough election, as well as the part which the Squire was known to have taken in the late rescue, were circumstances which made the present visit extremely out of season. But Priminheere could not have foreseen the business which brought Albert to his door, although the latter full well appreciated the indifference with which he was treated.

A bow of freezing civility had almost disconcerted Moonshine. It was accompanied by that look of disquieting carelessness with which the great are accustomed to repel obnoxious intruders. It conveyed the meaning of the words-what is your pleasure with me, as truly as though they had been spoken.

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"I,-that is to say, my mother has found, Sir," said Albert, "a letter relating to the mortgage upon Byrdwood House."

Priminheere started, and turned pale. He could not command his agitation, but fortunately for him neither the eye nor the mind of his visiter was quick-sighted.

"If there should be any mistake as to poor Mortimer, Sir," continued Mr. Moonshine, "I am sure you will not press matters against him."

"Don't talk to me of Mortimer, Sir," exclaimed Priminheere much hurried,—“Give me that letter."

"No-I can hardly do that-you don't know yet of what consequence it is."

The innocent and even vacant manner which accompanied these words of the Squire only served to enrage the Magistrate.

"Give me the letter, Sir," he repeated," what's the use of your bringing me a letter, if I'm not to see it." Alarmed by the gesticulations which attended this speech, Moonshine instinctively looked towards the door, and retreated in that direction.

"My good friend," cried Priminheere, under great alarm, “don't you see how unreasonable it is to come here with a letter and not to allow me to see it?" "So you should have seen it," returned Albert, "only -only you seem so disturbed.'

"Well-now then, I am calm," said the Magistrate. "Calm!" ejaculated the Squire, fixing his eyes upon the inflamed visage and swelling lips of his companion. "Besides," added he, "I don't know that I ought to give up such a letter as this—there's a complete receipt for the mortgage, and

"Give it me then," exclaimed Priminheere, unable to contain himself "it's mine.'

"No- it is'nt yours," returned Moonshine-"it belongs to Mortimer, if any body."

That's the same thing,-I'm entitled to it," said the Magistrate.

"No-begging your pardon, Sir, it is'nt," replied Albert, wonderfully collected "it belongs to the late Mr. Mortimer's estate, I picked it up some years ago. But as I was saying, if it should turn out that there has been some mistake, will you set it right by interceding for this poor gentleman ?"

"How can I interfere as a magistrate, Mr. Moonshine? When the Bank have determined to punish this man for passing forged notes, what can I do?-I can't save all the criminals in the country."

"No," resumed Albert," but you know if there has been a blunder-you have been the means, Sir, I don't mean any offence, of putting Mr. Mortimer in his present sad state."

"Give me the letter, then, I again and again demand of you," cried Priminheere; "tell me the contents—any thing-only don't stand there and lecture me upon what I can't help."

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"I really must wish you good morning, Mr. Priminheere," returned the other; you do not seem calm enough to hear the contents. And so saying, Albert seized the handle of the door, but Priminheere instantly stepped forward, drew his visiter away with some force, and passed the lock. Now, Sir," cried he fiercely, and pulling a pistol from a drawer in the apartment"will you oblige me with a sight of that letter or not?" The violence which had been used was of itself sufficient to have confounded Moonshine, but the sight of that formidable weapon which had occasioned his untimely illness at the duel, entirely overcame him. He staggered backward, and fell on the floor.

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"For God's sake, Mr. Moonshine-what is the matter? What are you doing?" said Priminheere, trembling excessively, "I have not shot you, you are not touched.

"Here, here," cried Albert, holding out the letter, which Priminheere grasped greedily.

"Then get up, Mr. Moonshine," said the Magistrate, unlocking the door, and hurrying over the contents of the paper with the most intense agitation-"There,' said he, "Mr. Moonshine," tossing the letter into the fire "make yourself easy-it is nothing-it was quite an old affair. Poor Mortimer! It had no reference to him. Are you better, Sir?"