“It is well,” said Sir Giles, glancing at Lanyere.  “You will not enjoy them.”

“What means he?” inquired Charles.

“The estates were assigned to this treacherous knave, your Highness,” said Sir Giles, pointing to Lanyere, “for a certain consideration, which was never performed.  But, while denying, as I do most energetically, that any underhand means whatever were used by us to obtain possession of those estates, and repeating my declaration that a most artful conspiracy has been formed against us, I assert, as will appear on investigation, that if I fail in sustaining my claim to the Mounchensey estates, they cannot go to Sir Jocelyn.”

“Wherefore not?” inquired Charles.

“Because Sir Ferdinando left them to his brother Osmond.  I have possession of his will.”

“It may be a forgery,” said Charles.

“Not so, your Highness,” observed Lupo Vulp.  “This statement is correct.”

“I have it with me now,” cried Sir Giles, producing a document.  “Will it please your Highness to look at it?” he added, handing it to the Prince.  “You will see that the estates are wholly left to Osmond Mounchensey.  If, therefore, your Highness should seek to deprive me of them, you must bestow them as they are herein bequeathed.”

“Undoubtedly, if this instrument be valid,” said Charles, looking at Lanyere.

“I do not dispute it, your Highness,” said the promoter.

“But there is no proof that Osmond Mounchensey is living, your Highness,” observed Lupo Vulp.  “He has not been heard of for many years—­not, indeed, since the time when his debts were paid by Sir Ferdinando.  Though Sir Giles has used every exertion for the purpose, he has never been able to discover any traces of him—­and it is reasonable, therefore, to suppose that he is no more.”

“That is false,” cried Sir Giles.  “It is true I have long sought for him in vain—­but within these few days I have obtained some tidings of him, which, if followed up, will assuredly lead to his detection.  Nay more, Lanyere himself must know that he is alive, since, from the intelligence I have received, he must have been recently in company with him.”

“Is this assertion correct?” said Charles, to the promoter.

“It is, your Highness,” replied Lanyere; “but I had good reasons for concealing the circumstances.”

“Undoubtedly,” cried Sir Giles; “because you had ascertained from the traitor Lupo that this will existed, and feared a claim might be advanced to the estates—­but they will never be yours, or Sir Jocelyn’s.  If not mine, they are Osmond Mounchensey’s.”

“He says right,” remarked Charles.

“Then learn to your confusion, villain, that Osmond Mounchensey stands before you!” cried the promoter, addressing Sir Giles.  “Behold him in me!”

“You Osmond Mounchensey!” exclaimed Sir Giles; eyeing him with an astonishment which was shared by Sir Francis and by the greater part of the spectators.  To judge from their manner, however, Prince Charles, together with Buckingham and De Gondomar, did not seem unprepared for the announcement.