"I, Arthur Wardlaw, confess that I forged the promissory note for 2,000 pounds, and sent it to Robert Penfold, and that 1,400 pounds of it was to be for my own use, and to pay my Oxford debts. And I confess that I bribed Wylie to scuttle the ship _Proserpine_ in order to cheat the underwriters." Penfold then turned to Wylie, and asked him the true motive of this fraud. "Why, the gold was aboard the _Shannon,_" said Wylie; "I played hanky-panky with the metals in White's store." "Put that down," said Penfold. "Now go on." "Make a clean breast," said Wylie. "I have. Say as how you cooked the _Proserpine's_ log, and forged Hiram Hudson's writing." "And the newspaper extracts you sent me," said Helen, "and the letters from Mr. Hand." Arthur groaned. "Must I tell all that?" said he. "Every word, or be indicted," said Robert Penfold, sternly. He wrote it all down, and then sat staring stupidly. And the next thing was, he gave a loud shriek, and fell on the floor in a fit. They sprinkled water over him, and Burt conveyed him home in a cab, advising him to leave the country, but at the same time promising him not to exasperate those he had wronged so deeply, but rather to moderate them, if required. Then he gave Burt fifty guineas. Robert Penfold, at Helen's request, went with her to Mr. Hennessy, and with the proofs of Arthur's guilt and Robert's innocence; and he undertook that the matter should go in proper form before the Secretary of State. But, somehow, it transpired that the _Proserpine_ had been scuttled, and several of the underwriters wrote to the Wardlaws to threaten proceedings. Wardlaw senior returned but one answer to these gentlemen: "Bring your proofs to me at my place of business next Monday at twelve, and let me judge the case, before you go elsewhere." "That is high and mighty," said one or two; but they conferred, and agreed to these terms, so high stood the old merchant's name. They came; they were received with stiff courtesy. The deposition of Cooper and Welch was produced, and Wylie, kept up to the mark by Nancy, told the truth and laid his two thousand pounds intact down on the table. "Now that is off my stomach," said he, "and I'm a man again." "Ay, and I'll marry you next week," said Nancy. "Well, gentlemen," said old Wardlaw, "my course seems very clear. I will undo the whole transaction, and return you your money less the premiums, but plus five per cent. interest." And this he did on the spot, for the firm was richer than ever. When they were gone, Robert Penfold came in and said, "I hear, sir, you devote this day to repairing the wrongs done by your firm: what can you do for me?" He laid a copy of Arthur's confession before him. The old man winced a moment where he sat, and the iron passed through his soul. It was a long time before he could speak. At last he said, "This wrong is irreparable, I fear."