Reud aside, they conversed
for some minutes, in whispers.

At the conclusion of this conference, Captain Reud stepped forward, and,
regarding Joshua with a look of much severity, he said: "Young man, for
the sake of other parties, and of other interests, your errors are
overlooked. Your discharge from this ship shall be made out
immediately. If you are the person you claim to be, your three or four
months' pay can be of no consequence to you. Have you sufficient money
to proceed to London immediately?"

"Much more than sufficient, sir."

"I thought so. Proceed to London to the lawyer's. If you are no
impostor, I believe that a father's forgiveness awaits you. Forget that
you were ever in this ship. My clerk will make out your discharge
immediately. Take care of yourself. You are watched. There is a
wakeful eye upon you: if you swerve from the course laid down for you,
and go not immediately to Mr ---'s office, be assured that you will be
again in irons under the half-deck. Have I, my lord, correctly
expressed your intentions?"

"Correctly, Captain Reud."

"Joshua Daunton, get your bag ready; and, in the meantime, I will give
the necessary orders to the clerk. You may go."

With an ill-concealed triumph on his countenance, Joshua Daunton bowed
submissively to all but myself. To me he advanced with an insulting
smile and an extended hand. I shrank back loathingly.

"Farewell, brother Ralph. I told you that I should be in London before
you. Will you favour me with any commands? Well--your pride is not
unbecoming--I will not resent it for your father's sake; and, for his
and for your sake, I will forgive the juggle that has hitherto placed
the natural son--that is, I believe, the delicate paraphrase--in the
station of the rightful heir. Farewell."

I made no reply: he left the cabin, and, in an hour after, the ship. I
shall not advantage myself of that expression, so fully naturalised in
novels, that "my feelings might be conceived, but cannot be expressed:"
for they _can_ be expressed easily enough--in two words,--stupefied
indignation. After Joshua had departed, the other persons remaining in
the after-cabin followed shortly after, with the exception of myself;
for Reud told me to stay where I then was, until he should see me again.

In the course of an hour, Lord Whiffledale went on shore with his
_cortege_; and Captain Reud returned into the after-cabin, which I had
been, during his absen