"Thomas, I can no longer endure this wasting anxiety," continued my uncle, solemnly. "This boy haunts me by day and by night. I seldom sleep an hour at a time. For your sake I am suffering all this; but you are cold, distant, and harsh to me." "What do you wish me to do, governor?" demanded the reckless son. "I send you all the money you want." "It is not money, but a clear conscience, that I need," groaned the wretched old man. "I would rather live in abject poverty than purchase plenty at such a fearful price." "Don't be foolish, governor." "I live in constant fear of the boy, especially since he questioned me, months ago, about his parents and his property." "Of course you told him he had no property." "I did." "Then it's all right. In the course of a week we will send him to New Orleans. When he has gone you can change your residence, and he will lose the track of you." "Perhaps he will not be willing to go to New Orleans; he certainly will not under such treatment as you bestow upon him. Thomas, my brother's will--" My uncle paused and looked at his son, as though in doubt whether to finish the sentence he had begun. "Well, what of the will?" demanded Tom, evincing more interest than he had before exhibited. "Of course you destroyed that years ago?" "No, Thomas, I dared not do such a thing," replied my uncle, in a hoarse whisper. "You did not!" exclaimed Tom. "Where is it? Let me have it!" "No, Thomas, I dare not even yet destroy it," groaned the old man. "This is madness!" "Perhaps it is. I wished to talk with you about it. It is no longer safe for me to keep it in the house." "Why don't you burn it, then?" "I dare not." By this time I was so dizzy holding my head down, that I was obliged to raise it. I was so giddy and confused that I came very near rolling off the top of the bay window; and in my efforts to save myself, I made a noise, which disturbed the conference. Tom and my uncle were alarmed. I heard them rush out of the room. Without waiting to ascertain their intentions, I put on my shoes, and climbed down from the bay window to the ground. I had hardly accomplished my descent before Tom and my uncle appeared at the window of my chamber. They had rightly attributed the noise to me, and hastened to my room to learn what had happened. "He has escaped," said Tom, as he drew in his head, after satisfying himself that I was not on the roof. I went round to the front of the house to ascertain what they would do next. There was a horse and chaise in the road, with which Tom had come, the animal fastened to a post. He neighed as I approached him. I found that he was shivering in the cool night air, after the severe sweat he had had in coming. I took a robe from the chaise and covered him, for I liked a horse almost as well as a boat. When I had finished this kindly act, Tom came out of the house with a lantern in his hand. He was followed by my uncle, and they went down to the landing, where my skiff lay.