“Depend upon it, Madam,” interposed Lord Guttleborough, haughtily, “I will see justice done to all. Augustus,” he added, looking a moment at his son, and then turning his head away, “you will prepare to leave at once;” and, so saying, he tottered out of the room. Now, my dear fellow, confess that I am a brick for having spun this long yarn. I thought you would like and _ought_ to know everything as it occurred, and you know I don’t often err on the score of too great prolixity in my letters. Believe me, I am glad from the bottom of my heart that you are righted, and believe, also, that if ever you want or wish for anything that I can do for you, you may always command your grateful and affectionate friend, RIBBLESDALE. _P.S._--How I wish I wasn’t a Duke, and had to consider the proprieties, for I should _so_ like to go and kick young Guttles before he goes. I wonder what will become of the young beast. _P.P.S._--_Wednesday Morning._ There are fresh troubles this morning. It appears that Betsey Slocombe is expecting her confinement, and her father threatens to sue young Guttles for seduction, and even talks about an action for breach of promise of marriage. So much for æsthetics and peacock fans! I shall go in more than ever for athletics. I shall depend on your coming to the Castle at Christmas, or rather after it; only you and I and another fellow, Carisbrooke, whom you will remember at Eton. My dear mother won’t leave Hampton Court, but we shall be very jolly together, I am sure. R. CHAPTER XIII. “IN EXTREMIS.” THE interview which he had had with Dr. Massenger, and the letters he had received and read from Lord Guttleborough and the young Duke of Ribblesdale, had day by day a greater effect upon the mind of the Squire. Not only were Messrs. Prodgers and Sharpin ordered to redouble their inquiries, but a telegram was despatched to Melbourne to anticipate the arrival of the _Windsor Castle_, and a trustworthy messenger was actually despatched to Australia to find out the exile, and to bring him home with all possible speed. Advertisements also were inserted in the _Times_ and other daily papers in the following form:-- THOMAS BROWN is informed that all is satisfactorily explained, and he is earnestly requested to return at once to his anxious and sorrowing relations. These advertisements had no effect whatsoever. At last, one day, a letter arrived from his London correspondents which for ever extinguished the hopes of the unhappy and criminal father. It contained a copy of a despatch from Lloyds’ Agents, declaring that there was no doubt that, from some at present unexplained cause, the _Windsor Castle_ had got out of her course, and had foundered in the open ocean, and that all hands had perished.