urdened by
some heavy weight, less like guilt than the clew to some
strange and dark affair. The revelation--if it deserved the
name, for it was made in broken sentences--now uttered with
rapid vehemence, now scarcely audible----was of the vaguest
kind. You may imagine, however, the interest I felt in the
narrative as the name Godfrey passed his lips. To know my
anxiety to trace some tie of family to these Godfreys. They
were gentry of ancient blood and good name, and would amply
satisfy the demands of the Sacred College; so that when the
boy spoke of Godfrey, I listened with intense curiosity;
but--shall I own it?--all my practised skill, all my science
of the sick-bed, was unable to tell me what were the
utterings of an unclouded intellect, and what the wild
fitful fancies of fever. I know, for I have repeatedly heard
it from his sister's lips, that this youth has never been in
Ireland, and yet he spoke of the peculiar scenery of a
certain spot just as if he had traversed it yesterday. Mind,
that I am carefully distinguishing between what might be the
impression left by often hearing of a scene from others, and
that which results from personal observation. His was
altogether of the latter kind. As, for instance, when
describing a garden, he mentioned how the wind wafted the
branches of a weeping ash across a window, so as to confuse
the scene that went on within; and then he shuddered
terribly, and, with a low sigh, exclaimed, 'The light went
out _after_ that.' These are not ravings, Michel. This boy
knows something of that dark mystery I have more than once
alluded to in my letters. Could it be that his own father
was in some way implicated in the affair? Bear in mind how
he came to live abroad, and never returned to Ireland. From
all I can learn, the old Dalton was a bold and reckless
character, that would scarcely have stopped at anything.
Assuredly, the son's conscience is heavily burdened! Now,
there is an easy way to test the truth or fallacy of all
this; and herein you must aid me, Michel. I have carefully
noted every word the boy spoke; I have treasured every
syllable that fell from him. If his description of the scene
be correct, the mystery may be unravelled. This you can
speedily ascertain by visiting the spot. It