inform us if there is a later deed?'

'Please to favour me, Mr. Pleydell'; and so saying, he took the
deed out of the learned counsel's hand, and glanced his eye over
the contents.

'Too cool,' said Pleydell, 'too cool by half; he has another deed
in his pocket still.'

'Why does he not show it then, and be d-d to him!' said the
military gentleman, whose patience began to wax threadbare.

'Why, how should I know?' answered the barrister; 'why does a cat
not kill a mouse when she takes him? The consciousness of power
and the love of teasing, I suppose. Well, Mr. Protocol, what say
you to that deed?'

'Why, Mr. Pleydell, the deed is a well-drawn deed, properly
authenticated and tested in forms of the statute.'

'But recalled or superseded by another of posterior date in your
possession, eh?' said the Counsellor.

'Something of the sort, I confess, Mr. Pleydell,' rejoined the man
of business, producing a bundle tied with tape, and sealed at each
fold and ligation with black wax. 'That deed, Mr. Pleydell, which
you produce and found upon, is dated 1st June 17-; but this
(breaking the seals and unfolding the document slowly) is dated
the 20th--no, I see it is the 21st--of April of this present year,
being ten years posterior.'