ght thrown upon the character of Welbeck, and new food
administered to my suspicions. No conclusion could be more plausible
than that which Williams had drawn; but how should it be rendered
certain? Walter Thetford, or some of his family, had possibly been
witnesses of something, which, added to our previous knowledge, might
strengthen or prolong that clue, one end of which seemed now to be put
into our hands; but Thetford's father-in-law was the only one of his
family, who, by seasonable flight from the city, had escaped the
pestilence. To him, who still resided in the country, I repaired with
all speed, accompanied by Williams.

"The old man, being reminded, by a variety of circumstances, of the
incidents of that eventful period, was, at length, enabled to relate
that he had been present at the meeting which took place between Watson
and his son Walter, when certain packets were delivered by the former,
relative, as he quickly understood, to the condemnation of a ship in
which Thomas Thetford had gone supercargo. He had noticed some emotion
of the stranger, occasioned by his son's mentioning the concern which
Welbeck had in the vessel. He likewise remembered the stranger's
declaring his intention of visiting Welbeck, and requesting Walter to
afford him directions to his house.

"'Next morning at the breakfast-table,' continued the old man, 'I
adverted to yesterday's incidents, and asked my son how Welbeck had
borne the news of the loss of his ship. "He bore it," said Walter, "as a
man of his wealth ought to bear so trivial a loss. But there was
something very strange in his behaviour," says my son, "when I mentioned
the name of the captain who brought the papers; and, when I mentioned
the captain's design of paying him a visit, he stared upon me, for a
moment, as if he were frighted out of his wits, and then, snatching up
his hat, ran furiously out of the house." This was all my son said upon
that occasion; but, as I have since heard, it was on that very night
that Welbeck absconded from his creditors.'

"I have this moment returned from this interview with old Thetford. I
come to you, because I thought it possible that Mervyn, agreeably to
your expectations, had returned, and I wanted to see the lad once more.
My suspicions with regard to him have been confirmed, and a warrant was
this day issued for apprehending him as Welbeck's accomplice."

I was startled by this news. "My friend," said I, "be cautious how you