recognised when at school, by
Furness, the schoolmaster of the village, he absconded to avoid being
apprehended; and I have never seen him from that time till yesterday
morning, when I called upon him, and had an interview as soon as his
mother, Mrs Austin, had quitted the cell in Exeter gaol, where he is at
present confined."

Austin started--here was the cause of Mrs Austin's absence explained;
neither could he any longer refuse to admit that Joey was his son.
After a silence of a minute, he replied--

"I have to thank you much for your kindness to my poor boy, Major
McShane; and truly sorry am I that he is in such a dilemma. Now that I
am acquainted with it, I shall do all in my power. There are other
Rushbrooks, gentlemen, and you cannot be surprised at my not immediately
admitting that such a disgrace had occurred to my own family. Of Mrs
Austin's having been with him I assure you I had not any idea; her
having gone there puts it beyond a doubt, although it has been carefully
concealed from me till this moment."

It must not be supposed that, because Austin replied so calmly to Major
McShane, he was calm within. On the contrary, from the very first of
the interview he had been in a state of extreme excitement, and the
struggle to command his feelings was terrible; indeed, it was now so
painfully expressed in his countenance, that O'Donahue said--

"Perhaps, Mr Austin, you will allow me to ring for a little water?"

"No, sir, thank you," replied Austin, gasping for breath.

"Since you have admitted that Joseph Rushbrook is your son, Mr Austin,"
continued McShane, "your own flesh and blood, may I inquire of you what
you intend to do in his behalf? Do you intend to allow the law to take
its course, and your son to be banished for life?"

"What can I do, gentlemen? He has been tried and condemned: of course
if any exertion on my part can avail--but I fear that there is no chance
of that."

"Mr Austin, if he were guilty I should not have interfered; but, in my
opinion, he is innocent; do you not think so?"

"I do not believe, sir, that he ever would have done such a deed; but
that avails nothing, he is condemned."

"I grant it, unless the real murderer of the pedlar could be brought
forward."

"Y-e-s," replied Austin, trembling.

"Shall I denounce him, Mr Austin?"

"Do you know him?" replied Austin, starting on his feet.

"Yes, Rushbrook," replied McShane, in a voice of thunder, "I do know
him,--