“It is no idle boasting,” replied the other. “You are cousin to the housebreaker, Jack Sheppard.” “If it were so, he would have great reason to be proud of the relationship, truly,” observed Wood, shrugging his shoulders. “It is easy to make an assertion like this,” said Thames, contemptuously. “And equally easy to prove it,” replied Jack, giving him the paper he had abstracted from Wild. “Read that.” Thames hastily cast his eyes over it, and transferred it, with a look of incredulity, to Wood. “Gracious Heavens! this is more wonderful than all the rest,” cried the carpenter, rubbing his eyes. “Thames, this is no forgery.” “You believe it, father?” “From the bottom of my heart. I always thought Mrs. Sheppard superior to her station.” “So did I,” said Winifred. “Let me look at the paper.” “Poor soul!--poor soul!” groaned Wood, brushing the tears from his vision. “Well, I'm glad she's spared this. Oh! Jack, Jack, you've much to answer for!” “I have, indeed,” replied Sheppard, in a tone of contrition. “If this document is correct,” continued Wood, “and I am persuaded it is so,--you are as unfortunate as wicked. See what your misconduct has deprived you of--see what you might have been. This is retribution.” “I feel it,” replied Jack, in a tone of agony, “and I feel it more on my poor mother's account than my own.” “She has suffered enough for you,” said Wood. “She has, she has,” said Jack, in a broken voice. “Weep on, reprobate,” cried the carpenter, a little softened. “Those tears will do you good.” “Do not distress him, dear father,” said Winifred; “he suffers deeply. Oh, Jack! repent, while it is yet time, of your evil conduct. I will pray for you.” “I cannot repent,--I cannot pray,” replied Jack, recovering his hardened demeanour. “I should never have been what I am, but for you.” “How so?” inquired Winifred. “I loved you,” replied Jack,--“don't start--it is over now--I loved you, I say, as a boy, _hopelessly_, and it made me desperate. And now I find, when it is too late, that I _might_ have deserved you--that I am as well born as Thames Darrell. But I mustn't think of these things, or I shall grow mad. I have said your life is in danger, Thames. Do not slight my warning. Sir Rowland Trenchard is aware of your return to England. I saw him last night at Jonathan Wild's, after my escape from the New Prison. He had just arrived from Manchester, whence he had been summoned by that treacherous thief-taker. I overheard them planning your assassination. It is to take place to-night.” “O Heavens!” screamed Winifred, while her father lifted up his hands in silent horror. “And when I further tell you,” continued Jack, “that, after yourself and my mother, _I_ am the next heir to the estates of my grandfather, Sir Montacute Trenchard, you will perhaps own that my caution is sufficiently disinterested.” “Could I credit your wild story, I might do so,” returned Thames, with a look of perplexity.