As soon as that idea struck him, be started from his seat and entreated Morton to accompany him in search of the stranger. "You know not," he said, in a tone impressed with that energy of will in which lay the talent of his mind,--"you know not of what importance this may be to my prospects--to your sister's fair name. If it should be the witness returned at last! Who else, of the rank you describe, would be interested in such inquiries? Come!" "What witness?" said Mrs. Morton, fretfully. "You don't mean to come over us with the old story of the marriage?" "Shall your wife slander your own sister, sir? A marriage there was--God yet will proclaim the right--and the name of Beaufort shall be yet placed on my mother's gravestone. Come!" "Here are your shoes and umbrella, pa," cried Miss Margaret, inspired by Philip's earnestness. "My fair cousin, I guess," and as the soldier took her hand, he kissed the unreluctant cheek--turned to the door--Mr. Morton placed his arm in his, and the next moment they were in the street. When Catherine, in her meek tones, had said, "Philip Beaufort was my husband," Roger Morton had disbelieved her. And now one word from the son, who could, in comparison, know so little of the matter, had almost sufficed to convert and to convince the sceptic. Why was this? Because--Man believes the Strong! CHAPTER II. "--Quid Virtus et quid Sapientia possit Utile proposuit nobis exemplar _Ulssem_." HOR. ["He has proposed to us Ulysses as a useful example of how much may be accomplished by Virtue and Wisdom."] Meanwhile the object of their search, on quitting Mr. Morton's shop, had walked slowly and sadly on, through the plashing streets, till he came to a public house in the outskirts and on the high road to London. Here he took shelter for a short time, drying himself by the kitchen fire, with the license purchased by fourpenny-worth of gin; and having learned that the next coach to London would not pass for some hours, he finally settled himself in the Ingle, till the guard's horn should arouse him. By the same coach that the night before had conveyed Philip to N----, had the very man he sought been also a passenger!