, you will manage all her money when you are her husband,
as you will be. Now you know all."

"But I don't know all," I replied; "and I insist upon doing so, before I
make up my mind what to do."

I believe he expected this opposition from me, for otherwise all he had
said could have been said in my room. But after feebly giving battle on
various points, and staving off sundry inquiries, he opened a drawer in
one of his cabinets, and produced a number of deeds, scrip, etc.,
belonging to Julia.

For two hours I was busy with his accounts. Once or twice he tried to
slink out of the room; but that I would not suffer. At length the
ornamental clock on his chimney-piece struck eleven, and he made
another effort to beat a retreat.

"Do not go away till every thing is clear," I said; "is this all?"

"All?" he repeated; "isn't it enough?"

"Between three and four thousand pounds deficient!" I answered; "it is
quite enough."

"Enough to make me a felon," he said, "if Julia chooses to prosecute
me."

"I think it is highly probable," I replied; "though I know nothing of
the law."

"Then you see clearly, Martin, there is no alternative, but for you to
marry her, and keep our secret. I have reckoned upon this for years, and
your mother and I have been of one mind in bringing it about. If you
marry Julia, her affairs go direct from my hands to yours, and we are
all safe. If you break with her she will leave us, and demand an account
of my guardianship; and your name and mine will be branded in our own
island."

"That is very clear," I said, sullenly.

"Your mother would not survive it!" he continued, with a solemn accent.

"Oh! I have been threatened with that already," I exclaimed, very
bitterly. "Pray does my mother know of this disgraceful business?"

"Heaven forbid!" he cried. "Your mother is a good woman, Martin; as
simple as a dove. You ought to think of her before you consign us all to
shame. I can quit Guernsey. I am an old man, and it signifies very
little where I lie down to die. I have not been as good a husband as I
might have been; but I could not face her after she knows this. Poor
Mary! My poor, poor love! I believe she cares enough for me still to
break her heart over it."

"Then I am to be your scape-goat," I said.

"You are my son," he answered; "and religion itself teaches us that the
sins of the fathers are visited on the children. I leave the matter in
your hands. But only answer one question: