hames. "Kidnapped, and sent to
France by one uncle, it was my lot to fall into the hands of
another,--my father's own brother, the Marshal Gaucher de Chatillon; to
whom, and to the Cardinal Dubois, I owed all my good fortune."

"The ways of Providence are inscrutable," observed Wood.

"When in France, I heard from the Marshal that his brother had perished
in London on the night of the Great Storm. It was supposed he was
drowned in crossing the river, as his body had never been found. Little
did I imagine at the time that it was my own father to whom he
referred."

"I think I remember reading something about your father in the papers,"
observed Wood. "Wasn't he in some way connected with the Jacobite
plots?"

"He was," replied Thames. "He had been many years in this country before
his assassination took place. In this letter, which is addressed to my
ill-fated mother, he speaks of his friendship for Sir Rowland, whom it
seems he had known abroad; but entreats her to keep the marriage secret
for a time, for reasons which are not fully developed."

"And so Sir Rowland murdered his friend," remarked Wood. "Crime upon
crime."

"Unconsciously, perhaps," replied Thames. "But be it as it may, he is
now beyond the reach of earthly punishment."

"But Wild still lives," cried Wood.

"He; also, has paid the penalty of his offences," returned Thames. "He
has fallen by the hand of Blueskin, who brought me these packets."

"Thank God for that!" cried Wood, heartily. "I could almost forgive the
wretch the injury he did me in depriving me of my poor dear wife--No,
not quite _that_," he added, a little confused.

"And now," said Thames, (for we must still preserve the name,) "you will
no longer defer my happiness."

"Hold!" interposed Winifred, gravely. "I release you from your promise.
A carpenter's daughter is no fit match for a peer of France."

"If my dignity must be purchased by the loss of you, I renounce it,"
cried Thames. "You will not make it valueless in my eyes," he added,
catching her in his arms, and pressing her to his breast.

"Be it as you please," replied Winifred. "My lips would belie my heart
were I to refuse you."

"And now, father, your blessing--your consent!" cried Thames.

"You have both," replied Wood, fervently. "I am too much honoured--too
happy in the union. Oh! that I should live to be father-in-law to a peer
of France! What would my poor wife say to it, if she could come to life
again? Oh,