“I have made copies of everything that seemed to throw light upon my late father’s wanderings,” said Miss Anastasia--“not much to speak of--see! These papers must have been carefully weeded before they came to my hands. Here is an old guide-book marked with notes, and here a letter dated from the place where he died. It is on the borders of Italy--at the foot of the Alps--on the way to Milan, and not very far from there. You will make all speed, young Atheling; I trust to your prudence--betray nothing--do not say a word about these children until you find some certain clue. It is more than twenty years--nearly one-and-twenty years--since my father died; but a rich Englishman, who married among them, was not like to be forgotten in such a village. Find out who this Giulietta was--if you can discover the family, they might know something. My father had an attendant, a sort of courier, who was with us often--Jean Monte, half a Frenchman half an Italian. I have never heard of him since that time; he might be heard of on the way, and _he_ might know--but I cannot direct you, boy--I trust to your own spirit, your own foresight, your own prudence. Make haste, as if it was life and death; yet if time will avail you, take time. Now, young Atheling, I trust you!--bring clear evidence--legal evidence--what will stand in a court of law--and as sure as you live your fortune is made!” Charlie did not make a single protestation in answer to this address. He folded up carefully those fragments of paper copied out in Miss Anastasia’s careful old-fashioned lady’s hand, and placed them in the big old pocket-book which he carried for lack of a better. “I don’t know much of the route,” said Charlie,--“over the Alps, I suppose,” and for once his cheek flushed with the youthful excitement of the travel. “I shall find out all about that immediately when I get to town; and there is a passport to be seen after. When I am ready to start--which will be just as soon as the thing can be done--I shall let you know how I am to travel, and write immediately when I arrive there;--I know what you mean me to do.” Then Miss Anastasia gave him--(a very important part of the business)--two ten-pound notes, which was a very large sum to Charlie, and directed him to go to the banking-house with which she kept an account in London, and get from them a letter of credit on a banker in Milan, on whom he could draw, according to his occasions. “You are very young, young Atheling,” said Miss Rivers; “many a father would hesitate to trust his son as I trust you; but I’m a woman and an optimist, and have my notions: you are only a boy, but I believe in you--forget how young you are while you are about my business--plenty of time after this for enjoying yourself--and I tell you again, if you do your duty, your fortune is made.”