ngular species of madness; you first attack Lord
Windermear, then a bishop, and, to crown all, you attack a dowager
peeress. I must acknowledge, that if you do not find out your parents,
it will not be for want of inquiry. Altogether, you are a most singular
character; your history is most singular, and your good fortune is
equally so. You have made more friends before you have come to age,
than most people do in their whole lives. You commence the world with
nothing, and here you are, with almost a competence--have paid off a
loan of one thousand pounds, which was not required--and are moving in
the best society. Now the only drawback I perceive in all this is, that
you are in society under false colours, having made people suppose that
you are possessed of a large fortune."

"It was not exactly my assertion, sir."

"No, I grant, not exactly; but you have been a party to it, and I cannot
allow that there is any difference. Now, do you mean to allow this
supposition to remain uncontradicted?"

"I hardly know what to say, sir; if I were to state that I have nothing
but a bare competence, it will be only injurious to the _memory_ of
Major Carbonnell. All the world will suppose that he has ruined me, and
that I had the fortune, whereas, on the contrary, it is to him that I am
indebted for my present favourable position."

"That may be very true, Mr Newland; but if I am to consider you as my
protege, and I may add, the protege of Lord Windermear, I must make you
_quite honest_--I will be no party to fraud in any shape. Are you
prepared to resign your borrowed plumes, and appear before the world as
you really are?"

"There is but one inducement, sir, for me to wish that the world may
still deceive themselves. I may be thrown out of society, and lose the
opportunity of discovering my parents."

"And pray, Mr Newland, which do you think is more likely to tend to the
discovery, a general knowledge that you are a foundling in search of
your parents, or your present method, of taxing everybody upon
suspicion. If your parents wish to reclaim you, they will then have
their eyes directed towards you, from your position being known; and I
will add, there are few parents who will not be proud of you as a son.
You will have the patronage of Lord Windermear, which will always secure
you a position in society, and the good wishes of all, although, I
grant, that such worldly people as Lady Maelstrom may strike your name
o