lump
sum was lost, and his relatives were in ignorance of it. Six months
after his death I came home, and finding that nothing had been said of
the money he had entrusted to my care, I went to his lawyer and spoke to
him about it. My friend had been a widower for the last dozen years. He
had three children, and no other relatives in the world. After the sale
of his effects, poor fellow, the two girls disappeared utterly. The
son, who was a reckless, good-for-nothing scamp, was my poor friend's
favourite, and whatever the old man died possessed of went by will to
him with a mere injunction to look after his sisters. He had not been
heard of for more than a year, but was believed to be somewhere in
Italy. The scoundrel professed to be a painter, and might have made a
decent sign-writer, if he hadn't been a drunkard. I could not find even
him, and the girls have been advertised for, vainly. Now, the lawyer
has just received a letter from this young ne'er-do-weel, who wants
to borrow money. I will tell you what I want you to do. If this scamp
learns that ten thousand pounds belong to him, he will take every penny,
though he left the girls to starve. But I want things so managed that he
shall share with his sisters--a thing he will be very reluctant to do.
Now, will you go to Naples, find this man out, get to know from him the
whereabouts of his sisters, manoeuvre him, and, if possible, induce him
to accept half? Will you remember that there is absolutely no receipt
in existence for the money which lies in my hand--that I am not legally
bound to pay a penny of it? That is my only power over this fellow. Keep
my name dark. Let him know there is a certain sum of money--never mind
telling him how much--in the hands of a certain person in London, who is
willing, on his written undertaking to divide with his sisters whatever
his father may have left, to pay over to him his moiety. Let him
understand distinctly that the person in whose hands the money lies
will not pay him one farthing without this bond unless he produces
the receipt given to his father. When you have secured his written
undertaking, will you bring him to me? I will be answerable for all your
charges in the matter.'

I had listened attentively to this story, and I said Yes, at once. I
added, that it seemed to me a very easy task and an honourable one.

'I want it done at once,' he said, 'because I know the girls must be in
a very poor position wherever they are.