Here was a precious result of amateur common-sense lawyership!  Linden could only have examined the abstract of title furnished him by Palliser’s attorney, and not the right of Dursley’s executors to sell; or had not been aware that the niece could not during her minority, subscribe an effective legal consent.

I found Mr. Flint at the office, and quickly imparted the astounding news.  He was as much taken aback as myself.

“The obstinate, pig-headed old ass!” he exclaimed; “it almost serves him right, if only for his Tom-fool nonsense of ‘Every man his own lawyer.’  What did you say was the niece’s name?”

“Well, I don’t remember that Sawbridge told me—­he was in such a hurry; but suppose you go at once and look over the will?”

“True:  I will do so;” and away he went.

“This is a very singular affair, Sharp,” said Mr. Flint on his return from Doctors’ Commons, at the same time composedly seating himself, hooking his thumbs into the arm-holes of his waistcoat, crossing his legs, and tilting his chair back on its hind legs.  “A very singular affair.  Whom, in the name of the god of thieves—­Mercury, wasn’t he called?—­do you suppose the bankrupt executors to be?  No other,” continued Mr. Flint with a sudden burst, “than Crowther & Jenkins!”

“The devil!—­and the niece then is”—­

“Catherine Arnold—­Tom Linden’s wife—­supposed to have been drowned in the Erin!  That’s check-mate, I rather fancy—­not only to Mr. Edwin Majoribanks, but some one else we know of.  The old fellow up stairs won’t refuse to acknowledge his daughter-in-law now, I fancy!”

This was indeed a happy change in the fortunes of the House of Linden; and we discussed, with much alacrity, the best mode of turning disclosures so momentous and surprising to the best account.  As a first step, a letter with an inclosure, was dispatched to Belfast, requiring the return of Thomas Linden and family immediately; and the next was to plead in form to the action.  This done, we awaited Catherine Linden’s arrival in London, and Mr. Linden senior’s convalescence—­for his mental agitation had resulted in a sharp fit of illness—­to effect a satisfactory and just arrangement.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Linden and Mrs. Arnold arrived by the earliest steamer that left Belfast after the receipt of our letter; and much astonished were they by the intelligence that awaited them.  Catherine Linden was for confirming the validity of the sale of the Holmford estate by her now authoritative consent at once, as a mere act of common justice and good faith; but this, looking at the total loss of fortune she had sustained by the knavery of the executors, and the obstinate, mulish temper of the father-in-law, from whom she had already received such harsh treatment, could not for a moment be permitted; and it was finally resolved to take advantage of the legal position in which she stood, to enforce a due present provision for herself and husband, and their ultimate succession to the estate.