ally when after the removal of
William and several other doubtful characters all still went on just
as before. Even your great anxiety, Edward, your indignation, even
this turned my surmises against you. I have said to myself: 'Why does
he talk so much about it, and make such a piece of work? I have given
him the fullest powers in the matter: did he really take it so much to
heart, he would have got hold of some clew long ago in one way or
other by craft or by force. I could not possibly do otherwise than
approve of whatever steps he took for my good.'"

An overpowering pain seized on Edward during this speech; he felt on
the point of fainting. With a look of utter despondency he threw
himself into a chair, hid his face with his hands, and bent it down
upon the table, till at length a flood of tears that streamed from his
burning eyes, and a loud fit of convulsive sobbing a little relieved
his heart, which seemed about to break.

The old man was astonisht to see so great and unlookt for an effect
produced by a speech which he had uttered with perfect calmness, and
even with kindliness. He endeavoured to comfort and pacify his young
friend, lifted up his head, and wiped the tears from his face, which
still stared at him with an expression of the deepest grief and
despair. He embraced him, he sought after words to heal the wound he
had inflicted, to lull the storm he had called up.

"O my heavens!" he at length cried, when he saw that all his efforts
were in vain, "what shall I do? Edward! I did not really mean any ill.
I only think of others what I believe of myself. I love thee in truth,
young man, above anybody I have ever known; thou art to me as a son:
hence my perverse supineness under my unjust suspicions: thou must
forgive me all, all, dearest Edward. I will do everything, everything
you ask of me."

When Edward at length was somewhat recovered, he said with a broken
voice, which was often checkt by violent sobs: "No, no, noblest, most
upright of mankind, never, never could you have sunk down into a
miserable thief! No want, not even hunger and nakedness, no
opportunity however tempting, could have degraded your lofty mind so
low. You only say it to quiet me. O heavens! this man, who treated me
with the warmest affection and with unbounded confidence, who placed
large sums in my hands, without ever inquiring about them, that I
might become the dispenser of his bounty in feeding the hungry and
taking care of t