strument.

"Perhaps," said his lordship, after scrutinising the papers, and
returning them to Joshua, "the young gentleman with the blackened eyes
will do us the favour, in a few words, to give us his own version of the
story; for, may I die consumptive, if I can tell which is the real Simon
Pure!"

Placed thus in the embarrassing situation of pleading for my own
identity, I found that I had very little to say for myself. I could
only affirm that, although always unowned, I had been continuously cared
for; and that the bills I had drawn upon Mr ---, the lawyer in the
King's Bench Walk in the Temple, had always been honoured. My lord
shook his head when I had finished, diplomatically. He took snuff. He
then eyed me and my adversary carefully. He now waved his head upwards
and downwards, and at length opened his mouth and spoke:

"Captain Reud, I wash my hands of this business. I cannot decide. I
was going to take on shore with me the legitimate and too-long neglected
son of my good old friend, Sir Reginald. Where is that son? I come on
board the _Eos_, and I ask him at your hands, Captain Reud. Is that
person with the discoloured countenance my friend's son? Certainly not.
Is that other person his son--a disgraced man? Knowing the noble race
of my friend, I should say certainly not. Where is Sir Ralph's [?Sir
Reginalds's] son? He is not here; or, if he be here, I cannot
distinguish him. I wash my hands of it--I hate mysteries. I will take
neither of them to London. I am under some _slight_ obligations to Sir
Reginald--and yet--I cannot decide. The weight of evidence certainly
preponderates in favour of the new claimant. Captain Reud, perhaps,
will permit him to land, and he may go up to town immediately, and have
an interview with Mr ---, the lawyer; and, if he can satisfy that
person, he will receive from him further instructions as to his future
proceedings."

CHAPTER SIXTY TWO.

THE CONFESSIONS OF A MADMAN, WHICH, NEVERTHELESS, EMBRACE A VERY WISE
CAUTION--RALPH GETS HIS LIBERTY-TICKET--VERY NEEDLESS, AS HE IS
DETERMINED HENCEFORWARD TO PRESERVE HIS LIBERTY--AND, BEING TREATED SO
UNCIVILLY AS A SAILOR, DETERMINES TO TURN CIVILIAN HIMSELF.

Here Captain Reud interrupted the speaker, and told him that Joshua was
a prisoner under punishment, and waiting only for convalescence to
receive the remainder of his six dozen lashes. At hearing this, his
lordship appeared truly shocked; and, drawing