ffair of such importance to another."

"He was my creature, sworn to secrecy, and bought with my money, whose
interest was to serve, not to betray me."

"A person who is capable of receiving a bribe to perform a base action,
Moncton, is never to be trusted, especially a low-born fellow, like
Walters; and where," she continued, anxiously, "is this man to be
found?"

"He left twelve years ago for America, and took out with him, Michael
Alzure, my brother's old servant, and Mary Earl, the boy's nurse, who
were the only witnesses to the marriage. I wanted him to take the boy
himself, and adopt him into his own family, which would have saved us
all further trouble, but this to my surprise he positively refused to
do."

"To what part of America did he emigrate?"

"First to Boston, where he remained for three years. He then removed to
Philadelphia from the latter place. I twice received letters from him.
He had been successful in business, and talked of buying land in the
western States; for the last six years I have never heard of him or
from him. It is more than probable that he is long since dead."

"People whom you wish out of the way, never die when you want them,"
said Dinah, with her peculiar sneering laugh. "But I think you told me
that the--" I could not catch the word which she breathed into the ear
of Mr. Moncton--"had been destroyed."

"Yes--yes. I burnt it with my own hand; this was the only document of
any consequence, and it is a hundred chances to one, that he ever
recovers it, or meets with the people who could prove his identity."

My uncle rose from his knees and locked the iron chest, then,
extinguishing my lamp, he and the old woman left the room.

The sound of their retreating footsteps had scarcely died away, when,
in spite of my wish to keep awake, I dropped off into a profound sleep,
and did not again unclose my eyes until it was time to dress for
breakfast.

CHAPTER XI.

MY FIRST LOVE.

I found my uncle sipping his coffee, as if nothing of importance had
occurred during the night, to disturb his slumbers. I took my seat at
the table in silence. My heart was full to bursting, and I dared not
trust my voice, to offer him the common salutations of the morning.

My face, I have no doubt, betrayed the agitation which I endeavoured to
conceal.

"You are late this morning, Geoffrey."

"Yes, Sir--I passed a very restless night, and the result is a bad
headache."

"How did that ha