a palish purple, then again became white.
In no other manner did he seem to lose his self-possession.

"Dr Thompson," said he, at length, very calmly, "let me see some of
these documents immediately."

"Anticipating the request, my lord, I have them with me." The doctor
then placed in his hands several letters and papers. At length, his
lordship exclaimed:

"I am confounded. It is wholly beyond my comprehension--I know not how
to act. It is excessively distressing. I wish, on my soul, I had never
meddled in the business. Can I see the young man?"

"Certainly, my lord; I will bring him to you immediately."

During Dr Thompson's short absence, his lordship walked up and down
with a contracted brow, and much more than his usual fidgety movements.
Not wholly to my surprise, but completely to my dismay, the doctor
reappeared with my arch and only enemy by his side--Joshua Daunton.

The contrast between him and me was not at all in my favour. Not in
uniform, certainly, but scrupulously clean, with a superfine blue cloth
jacket and trousers, white neckerchief; and clean linen shirt; he looked
not only respectable, but even gentlemanly. I have before described my
appearance. I may be spared the hateful repetition.

"And so," said his lordship, turning to Joshua, "you are the true and
veritable Ralph Rattlin?"

"I am, my lord," said the unblushing liar. "The young gentleman near
you is my illegitimate brother; his mother is a beautiful lady, of the
name of Causand, a most artful woman. She first contrived to poison Sir
Reginald's mind with insinuations to my disfavour; and, at last, so well
carried on her machinations as to drive me first from the paternal roof,
and, lastly, I confess it with horror and remorse, into a course so evil
as to compel me to change my name, fly from my country, and subject me
to the lash at the gangway. If these documents, that I confide to your
hands, and to yours only, will not remove every doubt as to the truth of
my assertions, afford me but a little time, till I can send to London,
and every point shall be satisfactorily cleared up."

He then placed in Lord Whiffledale's hands the papers that had been so
convincing to Dr Thompson. Captain Reud, now reduced by the presence
of the good doctor to the most correct deportment, stepped forward, and
assured his lordship that I, at least, was no impostor, and that, if
imposition had been practised, I had been made an unconscious
in