"Captain Reud, I wash my hands of this business. I cannot decide. I was going to take on shore with me the legitimate and too-long neglected son of my good old friend, Sir Reginald. Where is that son? I come on board the _Eos_, and I ask him at your hands, Captain Reud. Is that person with the discoloured countenance my friend's son? Certainly not. Is that other person his son--a disgraced man? Knowing the noble race of my friend, I should say certainly not. Where is Sir Ralph's [?Sir Reginalds's] son? He is not here; or, if he be here, I cannot distinguish him. I wash my hands of it--I hate mysteries. I will take neither of them to London. I am under some _slight_ obligations to Sir Reginald--and yet--I cannot decide. The weight of evidence certainly preponderates in favour of the new claimant. Captain Reud, perhaps, will permit him to land, and he may go up to town immediately, and have an interview with Mr ---, the lawyer; and, if he can satisfy that person, he will receive from him further instructions as to his future proceedings." CHAPTER SIXTY TWO. THE CONFESSIONS OF A MADMAN, WHICH, NEVERTHELESS, EMBRACE A VERY WISE CAUTION--RALPH GETS HIS LIBERTY-TICKET--VERY NEEDLESS, AS HE IS DETERMINED HENCEFORWARD TO PRESERVE HIS LIBERTY--AND, BEING TREATED SO UNCIVILLY AS A SAILOR, DETERMINES TO TURN CIVILIAN HIMSELF. Here Captain Reud interrupted the speaker, and told him that Joshua was a prisoner under punishment, and waiting only for convalescence to receive the remainder of his six dozen lashes. At hearing this, his lordship appeared truly shocked; and, drawing Reud aside, they conversed for some minutes, in whispers. At the conclusion of this conference, Captain Reud stepped forward, and, regarding Joshua with a look of much severity, he said: "Young man, for the sake of other parties, and of other interests, your errors are overlooked. Your discharge from this ship shall be made out immediately. If you are the person you claim to be, your three or four months' pay can be of no consequence to you. Have you sufficient money to proceed to London immediately?" "Much more than sufficient, sir." "I thought so. Proceed to London to the lawyer's. If you are no impostor, I believe that a father's forgiveness awaits you. Forget that you were ever in this ship. My clerk will make out your discharge immediately. Take care of yourself. You are watched. There is a wakeful eye upon you: if you swerve from the course laid down for you, and go not immediately to Mr ---'s office, be assured that you will be again in irons under the half-deck. Have I, my lord, correctly expressed your intentions?" "Correctly, Captain Reud." "Joshua Daunton, get your bag ready; and, in the meantime, I will give the necessary orders to the clerk. You may go."