’News of Zekiel, by Jove!  The prophet was found, Sir, with a friend in the neighbourhood of Hounslow, with a brace of pistols, a mask, a handful of slugs, and a powder-horn in his pocket, which he first gave to a constable, and then made his compliments to a justice o’ the peace, who gave him and his friend a note of commendation to my Lord Chief Justice, and his lordship took such a fancy to both that, by George, he sent them in a procession in his best one-horse coach, with a guard of honour and a chaplain, the high-sheriff dutifully attending, through the City, where, by the king’s commands, they were invested with the grand collar of the order of the hempen cravat, Sir, and with such an attention to their comfort they were not required to descend from their carriage, by George, and when it drove away they remained in an easy, genteel posture, with their hands behind their backs, in a sort of an ecstasy, and showed their good humour by dancing a reel together with singular lightness and agility, and keeping it up till they were both out of breath, when they remained quiet for about half an hour to cool, and then went off to pay their respects to the President of the College of Surgeons,’ and so forth; but I don’t think Irons had pluck for a highwayman, and I can’t, therefore, altogether, believe the story.

We all know Aunt Rebecca pretty well by this time.  And looking back upon her rigorous treatment of Puddock, recorded in past chapters of this tale, I think I can now refer it all to its true source.

She was queer, quarrelsome, and sometimes nearly intolerable; but she was generous and off-handed, and made a settlement, reserving only a life interest, and nearly all afterwards to Puddock.

‘But in a marriage settlement,’ said the attorney (so they called themselves in those days), ’it is usual; and here his tone became so gentle that I can’t say positively what he uttered.’

‘Oh—­a—­that,’ she said, ’a—­well, you can speak to Lieutenant Puddock, if you wish.  I only say for myself a life estate; Lieutenant Puddock can deal with the remainder as he pleases.’  And Aunt Rebecca actually blushed a pretty little pink blush.  I believe she did not think there was much practical utility in the attorney’s suggestion, and if an angel in her hearing had said of her what he once said of Sarah, she would not have laughed indeed, but I think she would have shaken her head.

She was twenty years and upwards his senior; but I don’t know which survived the other, for in this life the battle is not always to the strong.

Their wedding was a very quiet affair, and the talk of the village was soon directed from it to the approaching splendours of the union of Miss Gertrude and my Lord Dunoran.

CHAPTER XCIX.

THE STORY ENDS.

The old minutes of the Irish House of Lords can better explain than I the parliamentary process by which all the consequences of the judgment against the late Lord Dunoran were abrogated, as respected his son.  An ancient name rescued from the shadow of dishonour, and still greater estates, made my lord and lady as happy as things can.  So for the recluse Mervyn, and the fair Gertrude Chattesworth, our story ends like a fairy tale.