t with a brother, who, as I drew
from him, was a convict. He helped the brother to escape. They both came
to England. William learned from a distant relation, who lent him
some little money, of the inquiry that had been set on foot for him;
consulted his brother, who desired him to leave all to his management.
The brother afterwards assured him that you and Mr. Sidney were both
dead; and it seems (for the witness is simple enough to allow me to
extract all) this same brother then went to Mr. Beaufort to hold out
the threat of a lawsuit, and to offer the sale of the evidence yet
existing--"

"And Mr. Beaufort?"

"I am happy to say, seems to have spurned the offer. Meanwhile William,
incredulous of his brother's report, proceeded to N----, learned nothing
from Mr. Morton, met his brother again--and the brother (confessing that
he had deceived him in the assertion that you and Mr. Sidney were dead)
told him that he had known you in earlier life, and set out to Paris to
seek you--"

"Known me?--To Paris?"

"More of this presently. William returned to town, living hardly and
penuriously on the little his brother bestowed on him, too melancholy
and too poor for the luxury of a newspaper, and never saw our
advertisement, till, as luck would have it, his money was out; he had
heard nothing further of his brother, and he went for new assistance
to the same relation who had before aided him. This relation, to his
surprise, received the poor man very kindly, lent him what he wanted,
and then asked him if he had not seen our advertisement. The newspaper
shown him contained both the advertisements--that relating to Mr.
Morton's visitor, that containing his own name. He coupled them both
together--called on me at once. I was from town on your business. He
returned to his own home; the next morning (yesterday morning) came a
letter from his brother, which I obtained from him at last, and with
promises that no harm should happen to the writer on account of it."

Vaudemont took the letter and read as follows:

"DEAR WILLIAM,--No go about the youngster I went after: all researches
in vane. Paris develish expensive. Never mind, I have sene the
other--the young B--; different sort of fellow from his father--very
ill--frightened out of his wits--will go off to the governor, take me
with him as far as Bullone. I think we shall settel it now. Mind as
I saide before, don't put your foot in it. I send you a Nap in the
Seele--all I can s