“That, sir, is the portrait of Sir Edgar Tomlinson, who, by interposing his body between the spear of a Roundhead and his royal master, saved his life at the imminent risk of his own, for which gallant deed he was knighted, and afterwards presented, by royal hands, with a noble bride.  When you have done as great a deed, young man, you will be worthy to claim the hand of my daughter—­not before!”

Saying this, the excited father turned away and strode from the room, leaving Denton in dismay at the quick and hopeless termination of his conference.

On the next day, the young attorney, who was known to possess fine talents, acuteness, and extensive legal knowledge, was waited upon by Mr. Allison.

“I wish your services, Mr. Denton,” said he, “in a suit of great importance that I am about commencing.  Here is your retaining fee,”—­and he laid upon the table of the lawyer a check for two hundred dollars.  “If you gain me my cause, your entire fee will be five thousand dollars.”

Allison then went on to state, that Mr. Tomlinson’s claim to the five hundred acres next adjoining his (Allison’s) plantation, and upon which his mansion stood, was a very doubtful one.  That it, in fact, belonged to the Allison estate, and he was going to have the question of rightful ownership fully tested.  He furnished the young attorney with documents, data, and every thing required for commencing the suit.  Denton asked a week for an examination of the whole matter.  At the end of this time, Allison again waited on him.

“Well, sir, what do you think of my case?” he said.

“I think it a doubtful one,” was replied.  “Still, it is possible you might gain it, as there are one or two strong points in your favour.”

“I have not the least doubt of it.  At any rate, I am going to give the matter a fair trial.  Five hundred acres of such land are worth an effort to gain.”

“But you must not forget that, as you will open the question of ownership on the whole tract of one thousand acres, you run the risk of losing the half of which you are now in possession.”

“I’m willing to run the risk of losing five hundred acres of uncultivated land in the effort to acquire possession of as large a quantity in a high state of improvement,” returned the uncompromising gentleman ‘born and bred.’  “So you will forthwith make a beginning in the matter.”

The young attorney was grave and silent for some time.  Then opening a drawer, he took out the check which had been given to him as a retaining fee, and handing it to Allison, said—­“I believe, sir, I must decline this case.”

“Why so?” quickly asked the young man, a deep flush passing over his brow.

“I do it from principle,” was replied.  “I find, on examining the whole matter, that your grandfather and the father of Mr. Tomlinson, while in possession of their respective estates, in view of the difficulty there was in settling the precise title of the tract of land, agreed to an equal division of it, which was done in honour and good faith, and I do not think their heirs, on either side, have any right to disturb the arrangement then made.”