t, smoking a cigar, and playing at cards by
himself.

"Well, what news of your brother, Bully Phil?"

"None: they will reveal nothing."

"Do you give him up?"

"Never! My hope now is in you."

"Well, I thought you would be driven to come to me, and I will do
something for you that I should not loike to do for myself. I told you
that I knew the Bow Street runner who was in the barouche. I will find
him out--Heaven knows that is easily done; and, if you can pay well, you
will get your news."

"You shall have all I possess, if you restore my brother. See what it
is, one hundred pounds--it was his fortune. It is useless to me without
him. There, take fifty now, and if--"

Philip stopped, for his voice trembled too much to allow him farther
speech. Captain Smith thrust the notes into his pocket, and said--

"We'll consider it settled."

Captain Smith fulfilled his promise. He saw the Bow Street officer. Mr.
Sharp had been bribed too high by the opposite party to tell tales, and
he willingly encouraged the suspicion that Sidney was under the care
of the Beauforts. He promised, however, for the sake of ten guineas,
to procure Philip a letter from Sidney himself. This was all he would
undertake.

Philip was satisfied. At the end of another week, Mr. Sharp transmitted
to the Captain a letter, which he, in his turn, gave to Philip. It ran
thus, in Sidney's own sprawling hand:

"DEAR BROTHER PHILIP,--I am told you wish to know how I am, and therfore
take up my pen, and assure you that I write all out of my own head. I
am very Comfortable and happy--much more so than I have been since poor
deir mama died; so I beg you won't vex yourself about me: and pray don't
try and Find me out, For I would not go with you again for the world.
I am so much better Off here. I wish you would be a good boy, and leave
off your Bad ways; for I am sure, as every one says, I don't know what
would have become of me if I had staid with you. Mr. [the Mr. half
scratched out] the gentleman I am with, says if you turn out Properly,
he will be a friend to you, Too; but he advises you to go, like a Good
boy, to Arthur Beaufort, and ask his pardon for the past, and then
Arthur will be very kind to you. I send you a great Big sum of L20., and
the gentleman says he would send more, only it might make you naughty,
and set up. I go to church now every Sunday, and read good books, and
always pray that God may open your eyes. I have such a Nice Pony, wi