frigate. Finding that he belonged to the
regiment, I talked to him about one O'Sullivan who married in Ireland,
and mentioned the girl's name, and when he discovered that she was a
countryman of mine, he told me that his real name was O'Sullivan, sure
enough, but that he had always served as O'Connell, and that his wife
on board was the young woman in question. Upon which, I sent to speak
to her, and telling her that I knew all about it, and mentioning the
names of Ella Flanagan, and her mother, who had given me the
information, she was quite astonished; and when I asked her what had
become of the child which she took in place of her own, she told me
that it had been drowned at Plymouth, and that her husband was saved
at the same time by a young officer, `whose name I have here,' says
she; and then she pulled out of her neck your card, with Peter Simple
on it. `Now,' says I, `do you know, good woman, that in helping on
the rascally exchange of children, you ruin that very young man who
saved your husband, for you deprive him of his title and property?'
She stared like a stuck pig, when I said so, and then cursed and
blamed herself, and declared she'd right you as soon as we came home;
and most anxious she is still to do so, for she loves the very name of
you; so you see, Peter, a good action has its reward sometimes in this
world, and a bad action also, seeing as how I've shot that confounded
villain who dared to ill-use you. I have plenty more to say to you,
Peter; but I don't like writing what, perhaps, may never be read, so
I'll wait till I hear from you; and then, as soon as I get through my
business, we will set to and trounce that scoundrel of an uncle. I
have twenty thousand pounds jammed together in the consolidated,
besides the Spice Islands, which will be a pretty penny; and every
farthing of it shall go to right you, Peter, and make a lord of you,
as I promised you often that you should be; and if you win you shall
pay, and if you don't, then damn the luck and damn the money too. I
beg you will offer my best regards to Miss Ellen, and say how happy I
shall be to hear that she is well; but it has always been on my mind,
Peter, that your father did not leave too much behind him, and I wish
to know how you both get on. I left you a _carte blanche_ at my
agent's, and I only hope that you have taken advantage of it, if
required; if not, yo