The rest
laughed at the conceit, as they followed Oswald down stairs. They found
the Baron, and his son William, commenting upon the key and the letter.
My lord gave them to Sir Robert, who looked on them with marks of
surprise and confusion.

The Baron addressed him--

"Is not this a very strange affair? Son Robert, lay aside your ill
humours, and behave to your father with the respect and affection his
tenderness deserves from you, and give me your advice and opinion on
this alarming subject."

"My Lord," said Sir Robert, "I am as much confounded as yourself--I
can give no advice--let my cousins see the letter--let us have their
opinion."

They read it in turn--they were equally surprised; but when it came into
Wenlock's hand, he paused and meditated some minutes.

At length--"I am indeed surprised, and still more concerned, to see my
lord and uncle the dupe of an artful contrivance; and, if he will permit
me, I shall endeavour to unriddle it, to the confusion of all that are
concerned in it."

"Do so, Dick," said my lord, "and you shall have my thanks for it."

"This letter," said he, "I imagine to be the contrivance of Edmund, or
some ingenious friend of his, to conceal some designs they have against
the peace of this family, which has been too often disturbed upon that
rascal's account."

"But what end could be proposed by it?" said the Baron.

"Why, one part of the scheme is to cover Edmund's departure, that is
clear enough; for the rest, we can only guess at it--perhaps he may be
concealed somewhere in that apartment, from whence he may rush out in
the night, and either rob or murder us; or, at least, alarm and terrify
the family."

The Baron smiled.

"You shoot beyond the mark, sir, and overshoot yourself, as you have
done before now; you shew only your inveteracy against that poor lad,
whom you cannot mention with temper. To what purpose should he shut
himself up there, to be starved?"

"Starved! no, no! he has friends in this house (looking at Oswald), who
will not suffer him to want anything; those who have always magnified
his virtues, and extenuated his faults, will lend a hand to help him in
time of need; and, perhaps, to assist his ingenious contrivances."

Oswald shrugged up his shoulders, and remained silent.

"This is a strange fancy of yours, Dick," said my lord; "but I am willing
to pursue it,--first, to discover what you drive at; and, secondly, to
satisfy all that are here prese