Joseph?" said Sir Thomas.

"It does matter when you say I knowed. I didn't know,--nor I couldn't
know. There's the key anyhow."

"You can go now, Joseph," said Sir Thomas.

"Good night, Sir Thomas," said Stemm, retiring slowly, "but I didn't
know, Sir Thomas,--nor I couldn't know." Then Sir Thomas unlocked the
box, and gradually surrounded himself with the papers which he took
from it. It was past one o'clock before he again began to think what
he had better do to put Ralph Newton on his legs, and to save him
from marrying the breeches-maker's daughter. He sat meditating on
that and other things as they came into his mind for over an hour,
and then he wrote the following letter to old Mr. Newton. Very many
years had passed since he had seen Mr. Newton,--so many that the two
men would not have known each other had they met; but there had been
an occasional correspondence between them, and they were presumed to
be on amicable terms with each other.

Southampton Buildings, 14th July, 186--.

DEAR SIR,--

I wish to consult you about the affairs of your heir and
my late ward, Ralph Newton. Of course I am aware of the
unfortunate misunderstanding which has hitherto separated
you from him, as to which I believe you will be willing to
allow that he, at least, has not been in fault. Though his
life has by no means been what his friends could have
wished it, he is a fine young fellow; and perhaps his
errors have arisen as much from his unfortunate position
as from any natural tendency to evil on his own part. He
has been brought up to great expectations, with the
immediate possession of a small fortune. These together
have taught him to think that a profession was unnecessary
for him, and he has been debarred from those occupations
which generally fall in the way of the heir to a large
landed property by the unfortunate fact of his entire
separation from the estate which will one day be his. Had
he been your son instead of your nephew, I think that his
life would have been prosperous and useful.

As it is, he has got into debt, and I fear that the
remains of his own property will not more than suffice to
free him from his liabilities. Of course he could raise
money on his interest in the Newton estate. Hitherto he
has not done so; and I am most anxious to save him from a
course so ruinous;--as you will be also, I am sure. He has
come to