ll, you attack a dowager peeress. I must
acknowledge, that if you do not find out your parents, it will not be
for want of inquiry. Altogether, you are a most singular character; your
history is most singular, and your good fortune is equally so. You have
made more friends before you have come to age, than most people do in
their whole lives. You commence the world with nothing, and here you
are, with almost a competence--have paid off a loan of one thousand
pounds, which was not required--and are moving in the best society. Now
the only drawback I perceive in all this is, that you are in society
under false colours, having made people suppose that you are possessed
of a large fortune."

"It was not exactly my assertion, sir."

"No, I grant, not exactly; but you have been a party to it, and I cannot
allow that there is any difference. Now, do you mean to allow this
supposition to remain uncontradicted?"

"I hardly know what to say, sir; if I were to state that I have nothing
but a bare competence, it will be only injurious to the memory of Major
Carbonnell. All the world will suppose that he has ruined me, and that I
had the fortune, whereas, on the contrary, it is to him that I am
indebted for my present favourable position."

"That may be very true, Mr Newland; but if I am to consider you as my
protege, and I may add the protege of Lord Windermear, I must make you
_quite honest_--I will be no party to fraud in any shape. Are you
prepared to resign your borrowed plumes, and appear before the world as
you really are?"

"There is but one inducement, sir, for me to wish that the world may
still deceive themselves. I may be thrown out of society, and lose the
opportunity of discovering my parents."

"And pray, Mr Newland, which do you think is more likely to tend to the
discovery, a general knowledge that you are a foundling in search of
your parents, or your present method, of taxing everybody upon
suspicion. If your parents wish to reclaim you, they will then have
their eyes directed towards you, from your position being known; and I
will add, there are few parents who will not be proud of you as a son.
You will have the patronage of Lord Windermear, which will always secure
you a position in society, and the good wishes of all, although, I
grant, that such worldly people as Lady Maelstrom may strike your name
off their porter's list. You will, moreover, have the satisfaction of
knowing that the friends which you