assistants at first imagined that it was a
mistake; few handsome carriages are to be seen stopping in this quarter
of the metropolis. We descended and entered the shop, Mr Masterton
inquiring if Mr Pleggit was at home. The shopmen, who had not recognised
me, bowed to the ground in their awkward way; and one ran to call Mr
Pleggit, who was up stairs. Mr Pleggit descended, and we walked into the
back parlour. Mr Masterton then told him the object of our calling, and
requested to know why the gentleman, who had inquired after me, had been
sent away with the infamous fabrication that I had been transported for
forgery. Mr Pleggit protested innocence--recollected, however, that a
person had called--would make every inquiry of his shopmen. The head man
was called in and interrogated--at first he appeared to make a joke of
it, but when threatened by Mr Masterton became humble--acknowledged that
they had said that I was transported, for they had read it in the
newspapers--was sorry for the mistake; said that the gentleman was a
very tall person, very well dressed, very much of a gentleman--could not
recollect his exact dress--was a large built man, with a stern face--but
seemed very much agitated when he heard that I had been transported.
Called twice, Mr Pleggit was not in at first--left his name--thinks the
name was put down on the day book--when he called a second time, Mr
Pleggit was at home, and referred him to them, not knowing what had
become of me. The other shopman was examined, and his evidence proved
similar to that of the first. The day-book was sent for, and the day in
August ---- referred to; there was a name written down on the side of the
page, which the shopman said he had no doubt, indeed he could almost
swear, was the gentleman's name, as there was no other name put down on
that day. The name, as taken down, was _Derbennon_. This was all the
information we could obtain, and we then quitted the shop, and drove off
without there being any recognition of me on the part of Mr Pleggit and
his assistants.

"I never heard that name before," observed Harcourt to Mr Masterton.

"It is, in all probability, De Benyon," replied the lawyer; "we must
make allowances for their ignorance. At all events, this is a sort of
clue to follow up. The De Benyons are Irish."

"Then I will set off for Ireland to-morrow morning, sir," said I.

"You will do no such thing," replied the lawyer; "but you will call upon
me to-morrow even