The hare is a very fine animal in her way, you know; but a man must have a little of the tortoise in him if he wants to achieve anything out of the common run in the way of good luck.

I have been working, and waiting, and speculating the chances for the last fifteen years, and I think I've got a good chance at last.

But there's a good deal of work to be done before the business is finished; and I find that I must have some one to help me." "What sort of business is it ?" "The search for the heir-at-law of a man who has died intestate within the last ten years." The two men looked at each other at this juncture; and Valentine Hawkehurst smiled significantly.
"Within the last ten years ?" he said.

"That's rather a wide margin." "Do you think you would be a good hand at hunting up the missing links in the chain of a family history ?" asked Mr.Sheldon.

"It's rather tiresome work, you know, and requires no common amount of patience and perseverance." "I can persevere," said Valentine decisively, "if you can show me that it will be worth my while to do so.