d already been informed--the drawing of Natalie's
marriage-settlement. Was the question of money at the bottom of Sir
Joseph's contemplated appeal to his indulgence? He thought of his
commercial position. The depression in the Levant trade still continued.
Never had his business at any previous time required such constant
attention, and repaid that attention with so little profit. The Bills
of Lading had been already used by the firm, in the ordinary course of
trade, to obtain possession of the goods. The duplicates in the hands
of Bulpit Brothers were literally waste paper. Repayment of the loan
of forty thousand pounds (with interest) was due in less than a
month's time. There was his commercial position! Was it possible that
money-loving Sir Joseph had any modification to propose in the matter
of his daughter's dowry? The bare dread that it might be so struck him
cold. He quitted the house--and forgot to wish Natalie goodnight.

Meanwhile, Launce had left the evening party before him--and Launce
also found matter for serious reflection presented to his mind before he
slept that night. In other words, he found, on reaching his lodgings,
a letter from his brother marked "private." Had the inquiry into the
secrets of Turlington's early life--now prolonged over some weeks--led
to positive results at last? Launce eagerly opened the letter. It
contained a Report and a Summary. He passed at once to the Summary, and
read these words:

"If you only want moral evidence to satisfy your own mind, your end is
gained. There is, morally, no doubt that Turlington and the sea-captain
who cast the foreign sailor overboard to drown are on e and the same
man. Legally, the matter is beset by difficulties, Turlington having
destroyed all provable connection between his present self and his past
life. There is only one chance for us. A sailor on board the ship (who
was in his master's secrets) is supposed to be still living (under his
master's protection). All the black deeds of Turlington's early life are
known to this man. He can prove the facts, if we can find him, and make
it worth his while to speak. Under what alias he is hidden we do not
know. His own name is Thomas Wildfang. If we are to make the attempt to
find him, not a moment is to be lost. The expenses may be serious. Let
me know whether we are to go on, or whether enough has been done to
attain the end you have in view."

Enough had been done--not only to satisfy Launce, bu