ly and so good-looking. The trader added that he would
forbear to dismiss the young man as long as he could. It was on the
receipt of that letter that Losely had entered into communication with
the money-lender, whom he had come to town to seek, and to whose house
he was actually going at the very hour of Gunston's arrival. But why
borrow of the money-lender, if he had just stolen more money than he had
any need to borrow?

"The most damning fact against Losely, by the discovery in his possession
of the L5 note, of which Mr. Gunston deposed to have taken the number,
was certainly hard to get over; still an ingenious lawyer might have
thrown doubt on Gunstun's testimony--a man confessedly so careless might
have mistaken the number, &c. The lawyer went, with these hints for
defence, to see Losely himself in prison; but Losely declined his
help--became very angry--said that he would rather suffer death itself
than have suspicion transferred to some innocent man; and that, as to
the cloak, it had been inside his carpet-bag. So you see, bad as he was,
there was something inconsistently honourable left in him still. Poor
Willy! he would not even subpoena any of his old friends as to his
general character. But even if he had, what could the Court do since
he pleaded guilty? And now dismiss that subject, it begins to pain me
extremely. You were to speak to me about some one of the same name when
my story was concluded. What is it?"

"I am so confused," faltered Lionel, still quivering with emotion, "that
I can scarcely answer you--scarcely recollect myself. But--but--while
you were describing this poor William Losely, his talent for mimicry and
acting, I could not help thinking that I had seen him." Lionel proceeded
to speak of Gentleman Waife. "Can that be the man?"

Alban shook his head incredulously. He thought it so like a romantic
youth to detect imaginary resemblances.

"No," said he, "my dear boy. My William Losely could never become a
strolling-player in a village fair. Besides, I have good reason to
believe that Willy is well off; probably made money in the colony by
some lucky hit for when do you say you saw your stroller? Five years
ago? Well, not very long before that date-perhaps a year or two-less
than two years, I am sure-this eccentric rascal sent Mr. Gunston, the
man who had transported him, L100! Gunston, you must know, feeling more
than ever bored and hipped when he lost Willy, tried to divert himself
by