"Your drafts on Latrobe, sir, whose account I have received to-day, are very heavy."
"Oh, is that all?" said Cashel, carelessly.
"All! all!" repeated Kennyfeck; then, suddenly correcting himself, he added, "I am almost certain, sir, that your generous habits have over-mastered your prudence. Are you aware of having drawn fifty thousand pounds?"
"No, I really was not," replied Cashel, smiling more at the attorney's look of consternation than anything else. "I fancied about half as much. Pray tell me some of the items. No, no! not from book; that looks too formal,--just from memory."
"Well, there are horses without number,--one bought with all his engagements for the Oaks, which amount to a forfeiture of four thousand pounds."
"I remember that,--a piece of Linton's blundering; but he lost more heavily himself, poor fellow, our steed Lanz-knecht having turned out a dead failure."
"Then there is something about a villa at Cowes, which I am certain you never saw."
"No; but I have a drawing of it somewhere--a pretty thing under a cliff, with a beautiful bay of deep water, and good anchorage. Linton knows all about it."
"Twelve thousand pounds is a large sum to give without ever seeing the purchase."
"I cannot remember one-half; but there is plate and jewels; sums advanced for building; subscriptions to everything and everybody; a heavy amount transmitted to the Havannah."
"Very true; and that reminds me of a letter which I received at the very moment I was leaving home. Have I your leave to finish the reading? It is from an old and valued comrade."
"Of course,--don't think of me for an instant," said Kennyfeck, scarcely able to repress an open acknowledgment of his amazement at the coolness which could turn from so interesting a topic to the, doubtless commonplace, narrative of some Mexican sailor.
Cashel was, meanwhile, searching every pocket for the letter, which he well remembered, after reading in the carriage, to have crushed in his hand as he ascended the stairs. "I have dropped this letter," said he, in a voice of great agitation. "May I ask if your servants have found it?"
The bell was rung, and the butler at once interrogated. He had seen nothing, neither had the footman. They both remembered, however that Mr. Phillis had accompanied his master to the foot of the stairs to receive some directions, and then left him to return with the carriage.