upon you; I simply wished to be recognized as a
member of your family."

The old man looked him up and down, and then motioned him to take a seat.

"And what has become of your father, supposing him to be your father?" he
asked with an evident effort.

"He died, sir, nearly twenty years ago."

The old man was silent for some little time, and then he said: "And you,
sir, what have you been doing since then? But first, in what circumstances
did he die?"

"In the very poorest. For the last two years of his life he earned his
living and mine as a wandering fiddler."

"And what became of you?"

"I was brought up, sir, by a fisherman in the village in Yorkshire in
which my father died."

"Your manner of speech does not at all agree with that, sir," the old man
said sharply.

"No, sir," Will said quietly. "I had the good fortune to attract the
interest of the clergyman's daughter, and she was good enough to assist me
in my education and urge me on to study."

"And what is your trade or profession, sir?"

"I have the honour, sir, to be post-captain in His Majesty's navy."

"You a post-captain in His Majesty's navy!" the old man said scornfully.
"Do you think to take me in with such a tale as that? You might possibly
be a very junior lieutenant."

"I am not surprised that you think so, sir. Nevertheless I am indeed what
I say. My name appeared in the _Gazette_ a month ago."

"I remember now," the baronet said, "there was a William Gilmore appointed
to that rank. The name struck me as I glanced through the _Gazette_. I had
noticed it before on several occasions, and I sighed as I thought to
myself how different must have been his career from that of my unfortunate
son. Now, sir, I beg that you will let me see your proofs."

"In the first place, sir, there is this seal with your armorial bearings,
which was found upon him after his death. This is a looking-glass, one
which I believe was given to him by his mother. This is the violin with
which he earned his living."

The old man stretched his hand out for the violin, with tears in his eyes.

"I gave it to him," he said, "when he was eighteen. I thought it a great
piece of extravagance at the time, but he had such a taste for music that
I thought he deserved the best instrument I could get. The looking-glass I
also recognize, and of course the seal. Is there anything more, sir?"

"This, sir, is the certificate of my baptism at St. Matthew's Church,
Westminste