"My patience!" gasped Mirrable. "And the servants, sir?"

"Most of them will be here to-night. The Countess-Dowager of Kirton is
coming as Hartledon's mistress for the time being."

"Oh!" said Mirrable, who had once had the honour of seeing the
Countess-Dowager of Kirton. And the monosyllable was so significant
that Val Elster drew down the corners of his mouth.

"I don't like the Countess-Dowager, sir," remarked Mirrable in her
freedom.

"I can't bear her," returned Val Elster.




CHAPTER II.

WILLY GUM.


Had Percival Elster lingered ever so short a time near the clerk's house
that morning he would have met that functionary himself; for in less than
a minute after he had passed out of sight Jabez Gum's door opened, and
Jabez Gum glided out of it.

It is a term chiefly applied to ghosts; but Mr. Gum was a great deal more
like a ghost than like a man. He was remarkably tall and thin; a very