ness for its present portion and beyond--what?

XXI.

DEPARTURE.

"Forever and forever, farewell Cassius.
If we do meet again, why we shall smile;
If not, why then, this parting was well made."

--JULIUS CAESAR.

Samuel had received his orders to admit Mr. Bertram Sylvester to his
uncle's room, at whatever hour of the day or night he chose to make his
appearance. But evening wore away and finally the night, before his
well-known face was seen at the door. Proceeding at once to the
apartment occupied by Mr. Sylvester, he anxiously knocked. The door was
opened immediately.

"Ah, Bertram, I have been expecting you all night." And from the haggard
appearance of both men, it was evident that neither of them had slept.

"I have sat down but twice since I left you, and then only in
conveyances. I have been obliged to go to Brooklyn, to--"

"But you have found him?"

"Yes, I found him."

His uncle glanced inquiringly at his hands; they were empty.

"I shall have to sit down," said Bertram; his brow was very gloomy, his
words came hesitatingly. "I had rather have knocked my head against the
wall, than have disappointed you," he murmured after a moment's pause.
"But when I did find him, it was too late."

"Too late!" The tone in which this simple phrase was uttered was
indescribable. Bertram slowly nodded his head.

"He had already disposed of all the papers, and favorably," he said.

"But--"

"And not only that," pursued Bertram. "He had issued orders by
telegraph, that it was impossible to countermand. It was at the Forty
Second Street depot I found him at last. He was just on the point of
starting for the west."

"And has he gone?"

"Yes sir."

Mr. Sylvester walked slowly to the window. It was raining drearily
without, but he did not notice the falling drops or raise his eyes to
the leaden skies.

"Did you meet any one?" he asked at length. "Any one that you know, I
mean, or who knows you?"

"No one but Mr. Stuyvesant."

"Mr. Stuyvesant!"

"Yes sir," returned Bertram, dropping his eyes before his uncle's
astonished glance. "I was coming out of a house in Broad Street when he
passed by and saw me, or at least I believed he saw me. There is no
mistaking him, sir, for any one else; besides it is a custom of his I am
told, to saunter through the down town streets after the warehouses are
all closed for the night. He enjoys the quiet I suppose, finds food for
reflection in the