When a man is embarked in a bad scheme, he is at no loss for reasons, or rather excuses, for persevering in mischief; and Sir John Manvers, becoming day by day more accustomed to look on the sin he had committed as an error which could not be repaired, at last satisfied himself with the notion, that to place his son in his true position would be to entail irremediable sorrow on his household, and in nowise benefit the unfortunate Jasper. Jasper!--what could have induced him to permit the child to be called after his grandfather, that poor, imbecile, wretched old curate? Still, who was likely to search through an old parish register, and, in doing so, who would stop to inquire into the identity of John Lyle and his wife Mary and their son Jasper? The very devils, we are told, "believe and tremble;" but how short-sighted are men, who only calculate on human chances! No; there was little chance of the old yellow-leaved parish register of Tremorna ever being brought in evidence against him; and, besides, where _was_ this boy--this Jasper? Nurse Watson at length traced the child at last to some den of iniquity in the heart of London. She had a woman's heart--it yearned to Jasper-- he was a fine, manly child; and when she had relieved him of his soiled habiliments, and purified his strong young limbs with water, she was pleased with herself at having rescued this gentleman's son from filth and vice. She had, it is true, no fixed principles; but she had benefited by this child. She and her husband and children were living in ease and plenty on the money paid for him; and she believed that, in spite of what he had said, his father would rejoice at hearing that the lost sheep was found and in safe keeping. She sought Sir John at his house in one of the squares; she was ungraciously received by his confidential valet, who would not give her admittance to his master. She was of a passionate and determined temper, and, enraged at the imperative tone of the saucy London menial, she told him, in plain terms, that as he would not let her see Sir John, whom she had watched into the house a few minutes before, he might carry the message himself, and tell him that "Jasper was found." Her voice was raised, her cheeks were crimson, her eyes flashed at the cool impertinence of Sir John's "gentleman," and at this juncture a lady descended the staircase and crossed the hall. Lady Manvers, for it was she, stopped at once; and instead of retiring, as some fine ladies would have done, or ordering the angry woman from the hall, she walked quietly up to Mrs Watson, and with a look of reproof to the valet, whose temper she knew, said, "My good woman, what is the matter, and who is Jasper?"