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week before； they had called in such trifling debts as were
outstanding； discharged them； and left the place by night。 Why； or
whither； none can tell。”
Monks drew his breath yet more freely； and looked round with
a smile of triumph。
“When your brother；” said Mr。 Brownlow； drawing nearer to
the other’s chair—“when your brother—a feeble； ragged；
neglected child—was cast in my way by a stronger hand than
chance； and rescued by me from a life of vice and infamy—”
“What？” cried Monks。
“By me；” said Mr。 Brownlow。 “I told you I should interest you
before long。 I say by me—I see that your cunning associate
suppressed my name； although for aught he knew； it would be
quite strange to your ears。 When he was rescued by me； then； and
lay recovering from sickness in my house； his strong resemblance
to this picture I have spoken of； struck me with astonishment。
Even when I first saw him in all his dirt and misery； there was a
lingering expression in his face that came upon me like a glimpse
of some old friend flashing on one in a vivid dream。 I need not tell
you he was snared away before I knew his history—”
“Why not？” asked Monks hastily。
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“Because you know it well。”
“I！”
“Denial to me is vain；” replied Mr。 Brownlow。 “I shall show you
that I know more than that。”
“You—you—can’t prove anything against me；” stammered
Monks。 “I defy you to do it！”
“We shall see；” returned the old gentleman； with a searching
glance。 “I lost the boy； and no efforts of mine could recover him。
Your mother being dead； I knew that you alone could solve the
mystery if anybody could； and as； when I had last heard of you；
you were on your own estate in the West Indies—whither； as you
well know； you retired upon your mother’s death to escape the
consequences of vicious courses here—I made the voyage。 You
had left it； months before； and were supposed to be in London； but
no one could tell where。 I returned。 Your agents had no clue to
your residence。 You came and went； they said； as strangely as you
had ever done； sometimes for days together and sometimes not for
months； keeping； to all appearance； the same low haunts and
mingling with the same infamous herd who had been your
associates when a fierce； ungovernable boy。 I wearied them with
new applications。 I paced the streets by night and day； but until
two hours ago； all my efforts were fruitless； and I never saw you
for an instant。”
“And now you do see me；” said Monks； rising boldly； “what
then？ Fraud and robbery are high…sounding words—justified； you
think； by a fancied resemblance in some young imp to an idle daub
of a dead man’s。 Brother！ You don’t even know that a child was
born of this maudlin pair； you don’t even known that。”
“I did not；” replied Mr。 Brownlow； rising too； “but within the
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last fortnight I have learned it all。 You have a brother； you know it；
and him。 There was a will； which your mother destroyed； leaving
the secret and the gain to you at her own death。 It contained a
reference to some child likely to be the result of this sad
connection； which child was born； and accidentally encountered
by you； when your suspicions were first awakened by his
resemblance to his father。 You repaired to the place of his birth。
There existed proofs—proofs long suppressed—of his birth and
parentage。 Those proofs were destroyed by you； and now； in your
own words to your accomplice the Jew； ‘the only proofs of the boy’s
identity lie at the bottom of the river； and the old hag that received
them from the mother is rotting in her coffin。’ Unworthy son；
coward； liar—you； who hold your councils with thieves and
murderers in dark rooms at night； you； whose plots and wiles have
brought a violent death upon the head of one worth millions such
as you—you； who from your cradle were gall and bitterness to
your own father’s heart； and in whom all evil passions； vice； and
profligacy； festered； till they found a vent in a hideous disease
which has made your face an index even to your mind—you；
Edward Leeford； do you still brave me？”
“No； no； no！” returned the coward； overwhelmed by these
accumulated charges。
“Every word！” cried the old gentleman—“every word that has
passed between you and this detested villain； is known to me。
Shadows on the wall have caught your whispers； and brought
them to my ear； the sight of the persecuted child has turned vice
itself； and given it the courage and almost the attributes of virtue。
Murder has been done； to which you were morally if not really a
party。”
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“No； no；” interposed Monks。 “I—I know nothing of that； I was
going to inquire the truth of the story when you overtook me。 I
didn’t know the cause。 I thought it was a common quarrel。”
“It was the partial disclosure of your secrets；” replied Mr。
Brownlow。 “Will you disclose the whole？”
“Yes； I will。”
“Set your hand to a statement of truth and facts； and repeat it
before witnesses？”
“That I promise； too。”
“Remain quietly here； until such a document is drawn up； and
proceed with me to such a place as I may deem most advisable； for
the purpose of attesting it？”
“If you insist upon that； I’ll do that also；” replied Monks。
“You must do more than that；” said Mr。 Brownlow。 “Make
restitution to an innocent and unoffending child； for such he is；
although the offspring of a guilty and most miserable love。 You
have not forgotten the provisions of the will。 Carry them into
execution so far as your brother is concerned； and then go where
you please。 In this world you need meet no more。”
While Monks was pacing up and down； meditating with dark
and evil looks on this disposal and the possibilities of evading it；
torn by his fears on the one hand and his hatred on the other； the
door was hurriedly unlocked； and a gentleman （Mr。 Losberne）
entered the room in violent agitation。
“The man will be taken；” he cried。 “He will be taken tonight！”
“The murderer？” asked Mr。 Brownlow。
“Yes； yes；” replied the other。 “His dog has been seen lurking
about some old haunt； and there seems little doubt that his master
either is； or will be； there； under cover of darkness。 Spies are
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hovering about in every direction。 I have spoken to the men who
are charged with his capture； and they tell me he can never
escape。 A reward of a hundred pounds is proclaimed by
Government tonight。”
“I will give fifty more；” said Mr。 Brownlow； “and proclaim it
with my own lips upon the spot； if I can reach it。 Where is Mr。
Maylie？”
“Harry？ As soon as he had seen your friend here； safe in a
coach with you； he hurried off to where he heard this；” replied the
doctor； “and； mounting his horse； sallied forth to join the first
party at some place in the outskirts agreed upon