A sneer just passed the lips of Brandon, and as instantly vanished; while Mauleverer continued:—
"And as for the judgeship, dear Brandon, I advise you to accept it, though you know best; and I do think no man will stand a fairer chance of the Chief-Justiceship, or, though it be somewhat unusual for "common" lawyers, why not the Woolsack itself? As you say, the second son of your niece might inherit the dignity of the peerage!"
"Well, I will consider of it favourably," said Brandon, and soon afterwards he left the nobleman to renew his broken repose.
"I can't laugh at that man," said Mauleverer to himself, as he turned round in his bed, "though he has much that I should laugh at in another; and faith, there is one little matter I might well scorn him for, if I were not a philosopher. 'Tis a pretty girl, his niece, and with proper instructions might do one credit; besides, she has 60,000l. ready money; and faith, I have not a shilling for my own pleasure, though I have, or, alas! had, fifty thousand a-year for that of my establishment! In
