'double-clasped pocket-book' as the receptacle
of the papers likely to involve him, for this pocket-book was not
forthcoming, nor anywhere to be found, nor had any papers referring to
his gaming transactions been found upon the dead man. However, whatever
might have been the original intention of this Collis, neither my uncle
nor my father ever heard more of him; but he published the letter in
Faulkner's newspaper, which was shortly afterwards made the vehicle of
a much more mysterious attack. The passage in that periodical to which
I allude, occurred about four years afterwards, and while the fatal
occurrence was still fresh in public recollection. It commenced by a
rambling preface, stating that 'a CERTAIN PERSON whom CERTAIN persons
thought to be dead, was not so, but living, and in full possession
of his memory, and moreover ready and able to make GREAT delinquents
tremble.' It then went on to describe the murder, without, however,
mentioning names; and in doing so, it entered into minute and
circumstantial particulars of which none but an EYE-WITNESS could
have been possessed, and by implications almost too unequivocal to be
regarded in the light of insinuation, to involve the 'TITLED GAMBLER' in
the guilt of the transaction.

My father at once urged Sir Arthur to proceed against the paper in an
action of libel; but he would not hear of it, nor consent to my father's
taking any legal steps whatever in the matter. My father, however, wrote
in a threatening tone to Faulkner, demanding a surrender of the author
of the obnoxious article. The answer to this application is still in
my possession, and is penned in an apologetic tone: it states that
the manuscript had been handed in, paid for, and inserted as an
advertisement, without sufficient inquiry, or any knowledge as to whom
it referred.

No step, however, was taken to clear my uncle's character in the
judgment of the public; and as he immediately sold a small property, the
application of the proceeds of which was known to none, he was said
to have disposed of it to enable himself to buy off the threatened
information. However the truth might have been, it is certain that no
charges respecting the mysterious murder were afterwards publicly made
against my uncle, and, as far as external disturbances were concerned,
he enjoyed henceforward perfect security and quiet.

A deep and lasting impression, however, had been made upon the public
mind, and Sir Arthur T----n