it is not bad," said Croyden. "I've no ground for complaint, on that head. I can, at least, be comfortable here. It's not bad inside, either." That evening, after dinner, when the two men were sitting in the library while a short-lived thunderstorm raged outside, Macloud, after a long break in the conversation--which is the surest sign of camaraderie among men--observed, apropos of nothing except the talk of the morning: "Lord! man, you've got no kick coming!" "Who said I had?" Croyden demanded. "You did, by damning it with faint praise." "Damning what?" "Your present environment--and yet, look you! A comfortable house, fine grounds, beautiful old furnishings, delicious victuals, and two negro servants, who are devoted to you, or the place--no matter which, for it assures their permanence; the one a marvelous cook, the other a competent man; and, by way of society, a lot of fine, old antebellum families, with daughters like the Symphony in Blue, we saw this morning. God! you're hard to please." "And that is not all," said Croyden, laughing and pointing to the portraits. "I've got ancestors--by purchase." "And you have come by them clean-handed, which is rare.--Moreover, I fancy you are one who has them by inheritance, as well." Croyden nodded. "I'm glad to say I have--ancestors are distinctly fashionable down here. But _that's_ not all I've got." "There is only one thing more--money," said Macloud. "You haven't found any of it down here, have you?" "That is just what I don't know," Croyden replied, tossing away his cigarette, and crossing to the desk by the window. "It depends--on this." He handed the Parmenter letter to Macloud. "Read it through--the endorsements last, in their order--and then tell me what you think of it." ... "These endorsements, I take it," said Macloud, "though without date and signed only with initials, were made by the original addressee, Marmaduke Duval, his son, who was presumably Daniel Duval, and Daniel Duval's son, Marmaduke; the rest, of course, is plain.""That is correct," Croyden answered. "I have made inquiries--Colonel Duval's father was Marmaduke, whose son was Daniel, whose son was Marmaduke, the addressee."

"Then why isn't it true?" Macloud demanded.

"My dear fellow, I'm not denying it! I simply want your opinion--what to do?"

"Have you shown this letter to anyone else?"

"No one."

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