Cornet Simpkinson however thought of it all afterwards, and felt that that evening and that hour had been more important than any other evening or any other hour in his life.
At half-past ten, when Neville was beginning to think that he would take himself to bed, and was still cursing the evil star which had brought him to County Clare, there arose a clatter at the outside gate of the small barrack-yard.

A man had posted all the way down from Limerick and desired to see Mr.Neville at once.

The man had indeed come direct from Scroope,--by rail from Dublin to Limerick, and thence without delay on to Ennis.

The Earl of Scroope was dead, and Frederic Neville was Earl of Scroope.

The man brought a letter from Miss Mellerby, telling him the sad news and conjuring him in his aunt's name to come at once to the Manor.