That your father should never have revealed where
he stowed this document is natural enough, during the life of his uncle;
his own life was not spared long enough to give him much opportunity
to explain afterwards, but I feel perfectly persuaded in my mind--that
unless Mr. Robert Beaufort discovered that paper amongst the others
he examined--in one of those drawers will be found all we want to
substantiate your claims. This is the more likely from your father never
mentioning, even to your mother apparently, the secret receptacles in
the bureau. Why else such mystery? The probability is that he received
the document either just before or at the time he purchased the bureau,
or that he bought it for that very purpose: and, having once deposited
the paper in a place he deemed secure from curiosity--accident,
carelessness, policy, perhaps, rather shame itself (pardon me) for the
doubt of your mother's discretion, that his secrecy seemed to imply,
kept him from ever alluding to the circumstance, even when the intimacy
of after years made him more assured of your mother's self-sacrificing
devotion to his interests. At his uncle's death he thought to repair
all!"

"And how, if that be true--if that Heaven which has delivered me
hitherto from so many dangers, has, in the very secrecy of my poor
father, saved my birthright front the gripe of the usurper--how, I say,
is---"

"The bureau to pass into our possession? That is the difficulty. But we
must contrive it somehow, if all else fail us; meanwhile, as I now feel
sure that there has been a copy of that register made, I wish to know
whether I should not immediately cross the country into Wales, and see
if I can find any person in the neighbourhood of A----- who did examine
the copy taken: for, mark you, the said copy is only of importance as
leading to the testimony of the actual witness who took it."

"Sir," said Vaudemont, heartily shaking Mr. Barlow by the hand, "forgive
my first petulance. I see in you the very man I desired and wanted--your
acuteness surprises and encourages me. Go to Wales, and God speed you!"

"Very well!--in five minutes I shall be off. Meanwhile, see the witness
yourself; the sight of his benefactor's son will do more to keep him
steady than anything else. There's his address, and take care not to
give him money. And now I will order my chaise--the matter begins to
look worth expense. Oh! I forgot to say that Monsieur Liancourt called
on you yest