n the
captain's name instead of his own. As soon as he heard the letter read,
he at once perceived that it had been the old lady, and not the priests,
who had made the inquiry, and that by giving Captain Wilson's name he
had obtained for him this fine legacy. Jack was delighted, but still
puzzled, so he walked out of the room to reflect a little.

"What can it mean?" said Captain Wilson. "I never rendered any services
to any one on the 12th of August or after it. It is some mistake--12th
of August--that was the day of the grand masquerade."

"A lucky one for you, at all events--for you know, mistake or not, no
one else can touch the legacy. It can only be paid to you."

"I never heard of anything taking place at the masquerade--I was there,
but I left early, for I was not very well. Mr Easy," said Captain
Wilson, turning round, but Jack was gone.

"Was he at the masquerade?" asked the Governor.

"Yes, I know he was, for the first lieutenant told me that he requested
not to come on board till the next day."

"Depend upon it," replied the Governor, striking his fist upon the
table, "that Jack's at the bottom of it."

"I should not be surprised at his being at the bottom of anything,"
replied Captain Wilson, laughing.

"Leave it to me, Wilson, I'll find it out."

After a little more conversation, Captain Wilson went on board, leaving
Jack on purpose that the Governor might pump him. But this Sir Thomas
had no occasion to do, for Jack had made up his mind to make the
Governor his confidant, and he immediately told him the whole story.
The Governor held his sides at our hero's description, especially at his
ruse of giving the captain's name instead of his own.

"You'll kill me, Jack, before you've done with me," said old Tom, at
last; "but now what is to be done?"

Our hero now became grave; he pointed out to the Governor that he
himself had plenty of money, and would come into a large fortune, and
that Captain Wilson was poor, with a large family. All Jack wished the
Governor to manage was, that Captain Wilson might consent to accept the
legacy.

"Right, boy, right! you're my own boy," replied the Governor; "but we
must think of this, for Wilson is the very soul of honour, and there may
be some difficulty about it. You have told nobody?"

"Not a soul but you, Sir Thomas."

"It never will do to tell him all this, Jack, for he would insist that
the legacy belonged to you."

"I have it, sir," replie