ring
sympathy--for all that is noble and heroic.'"

"Too much-this is too, too much," stammered out Waife, restlessly
turning away; "but--but, you are folding up the letter. That is all?--he
does not say more? he does not mention any one else?--eh?--eh?"

"No, sir; that is all."

"Thank Heaven! He is an honourable man! Yet he has said more than he
ought--much more than he can prove, or than I--" he broke off, and
abruptly asked--"How did Mr. Darrell take these assertions? With an
incredulous laugh--eh?--'Why, the old rogue had pleaded guilty!'"

"Sir, Alban Morley was there to speak of the William Losely whom he had
known; to explain, from facts which he had collected at the time,
of what nature was the evidence not brought forward. The motive that
induced you to plead guilty I had long guessed; it flashed in an instant
on Guy Darrell; it was not mere guess with him! You ask me what he
said? This: 'Grand nature! George is right! and I do bow my head in
reverence!'"

"He said that?--Guy Darrell? On your honour, he said that?"

"Can you doubt it? Is he not a gentleman?" Waife was fairly overcome.

"But, sir," resumed Lionel, "I must not conceal from you, that though
George's letter and Alban Morley's communications sufficed to satisfy
Darrell, without further question, your old friend was naturally anxious
to learn a more full account, in the hope of legally substantiating your
innocence. He therefore despatched by the telegraph a request to his
nephew to come at once to Fawley. George arrived there yesterday. Do not
blame him, sir, that we share his secret."

"You do? Good heavens! And that lawyer will be barbarous enough
to--but no--he has an interest in not accusing of midnight robbery
his daughter's husband; Jasper's secret is safe with him. And Colonel
Morley--surely his cruel nephew will not suffer him to make me--me, with
one foot in the grave--a witness against my Lizzy's son!"

"Colonel Morley, at Darrell's suggestion, came with me to London; and if
he does not accompany me to you, it is because he is even now busied in
finding out your son, not to undo, but to complete the purpose of your
self-sacrifice. 'All other considerations,' said Guy Darrell, 'must be
merged in this one thought--that such a father shall not have been in
vain a martyr.' Colonel Morley is empowered to treat with your son
on any terms; but on this condition, that the rest of his life shall
inflict no farther pain, no farther fear o