of him?"

"No; I was never told there was such a man."

"I doubt if anyone, outside those immediately interested, ever knew the
circumstances. Of course the family kept it a close secret. This is
where the man had all the advantage. As soon as the Judge died he
determined to represent himself as Philip, and claim the property.

"As Philip had been absent so long, no one could dispute successfully
his claim to be that individual. He possessed ample evidence that he
was the son of Judge Henley."

"But surely he would anticipate that my hus--Philip--would hear of his
father's death?"

"He took the chance of getting the property into his hands first. As I
understand the matter he possessed no knowledge that the Judge was in
communication with Philip. He believed the latter had disappeared
utterly, and would only learn of his inheritance through accident. To
prevent this he dispatched a man North to discover him, if possible,
and keep him under surveillance. He thought he had every avenue
guarded."

"And--and you said his mother was a negress?"

"Yes--old Sallie."

"What! That awful creature!"

"Probably she was not that in her younger days."

"I cannot imagine such a thing. How did you learn this?"

"From Broussard first. They have been together for years, but I
happened to discover the fellow when he was angry over a punishment.
He talked more freely than he intended to do, and later I verified all
he said by the letters found."

"Then, strange as it sounds, it is true?"

"Without doubt. Moreover," and I lowered my voice in sudden
embarrassment, "within the last two weeks the Captain had received news
from his agent in the North, which gave him fresh confidence. From his
standpoint he no longer had any cause for fear from the chief source."

"What--what do you mean?"

"You will believe me? You will not think I manufacture this?"

"Certainly not:--but--but I do not understand."

"Well, the man reported that he had found trace of Philip Henley; he
told of the life the man was leading, and where he lived. I think all
this must have been immediately after your separation, as he mentioned
no wife. However, he described something even more important."

"You must tell me," she burst forth, as I hesitated. "Don't be afraid
to trust me with all you know."

"I am not afraid," I returned stoutly enough, "not in the sense you
mean, at least, yet it is never easy to be the bearer of evil news."