me.
The doctor, especially, seemed to feel deeply for my situation. He
told me that he had heard a strange story; but that, as yet, he was not
at liberty to mention any particulars. He assured me that he had
entirely acquitted me of any participation in a series of base
deceptions that had been practised upon an ancient, a distinguished, and
wealthy family. He bade me hope for the best, and always consider him
as my friend. The purser spoke to the same effect. I told them that my
conviction was that it was they, and not I, who were the victims of
deception. I stated that I had never pretended to rank or parentage of
any sort; I acknowledged that everything connected with my family was a
perfect mystery; but I asked them how they could place any faith in the
assertions of a man who was in a mean capacity when I met with him--who
had confessed to me a multiplicity of villainies--and who had
corroborated the truth of his own confessions by his uniformly wicked
conduct whilst on board.

To all this they both smiled very sapiently, and told me they had their
reasons.

"Well," said I, "you are wise, and, compared to me, old men. You cannot
think this Daunton a moral character--you cannot think him honest.
Still, telling me you are my friends, you champion him against me. And
yet I know not how or in what manner. If he should prove my brother,
the world is wide enough for us both; let him keep out of my way, if he
can. Depend upon it, doctor, he is acting upon an afterthought. He has
been forced into a desperate course. You marked his abject cowardice at
the gangway. During the many hours that he was in irons, before that
punishment he so much dreaded was inflicted, why did he not then send
for you, and, to save himself, make to you these important disclosures?
Merely because he did not think of it. By heavens--a light rushes on
me--he is a housebreaker!--he has committed some burglary, and stolen
papers relating to me; and no doubt he has followed me, first, with the
intention of selling to me the purloined secret at some unconscionable
price, and he has since thought fit to change his plan for something
more considerable, more wicked."

"My poor boy," said the doctor, kindly, "you are under a delusion. Let
me change the subject, and puncture you with my lancet under the eyes--
they are dreadfully contused. Well, Rattlin, we are to go to Sheerness
directly, and be paid off. You may depend upon it, the cap