fear my return.
They shall hear of me no more. Under another name,--not my own hateful
one,--I will strive to distinguish myself in some foreign service, and
win myself a reputation, or perish honourably. But I will never--never
return."

"I will not attempt to combat your resolution, Jack," returned Thames,
after a pause. "But I dread the effect your departure may have upon your
poor mother. Her life hangs upon a thread, and this may snap it."

"I wish you hadn't mentioned her," said Jack, in a broken voice, while
his whole frame shook with emotion. "What I do is for the best, and I
can only hope she may have strength to bear the separation. You must say
farewell to her, for I cannot. I don't ask you to supply my place--for
that is, perhaps, impossible. But, be like a son to her."

"Do not doubt me," replied Thames, warmly pressing his hand.

"And now, I've one further request," faltered Jack; "though I scarcely
know how to make it. It is to set me right with Winifred. Do not let her
think worse of me than I deserve,--or even so ill. Tell her, that more
than once, when about to commit some desperate offence, I have been
restrained by her gentle image. If hopeless love for her made me a
robber, it has also saved me many a crime. Will you tell her that?"

"I will," replied Thames, earnestly.

"Enough," said Jack, recovering his composure. "And now, to your own
concerns. Blueskin, who has been on the watch all night, has dogged Sir
Rowland Trenchard to Jonathan Wild's house; and, from the mysterious
manner in which he was admitted by the thief-taker's confidential
servant, Abraham Mendez, and not by the regular porter, there is little
doubt but they are alone, and probably making some arrangements prior to
our uncle's departure from England."

"Is he leaving England?" demanded Thames, in astonishment.

"He sails to-morrow morning in the very vessel by which I start,"
replied Jack. "Now, if as I suspect,--from the documents just placed in
your possession,--Sir Rowland meditates doing you justice after his
departure, it is possible his intentions may be frustrated by the
machinations of Wild, whose interest is obviously to prevent such an
occurrence, unless we can surprise them together, and, by proving to Sir
Rowland that we possess the power of compelling a restitution of your
rights, force the other treacherous villain into compliance. Jonathan,
in all probability, knows nothing of these packets; and their produc