"Let me see; I'll have a good name. I had a relative of the name of
Musgrave; I think I will borrow his name. What say you, Philip. Will
you be for the future Philip Musgrave?"
"Yes, brother, with all my heart. The name appears to fit me better
than that of Elrington."
Thus, Madam, did I resume my real name without any suspicion on the
part of Captain Levee; but I could not well sign government papers
with an assumed one.
On the following day I called upon Mr. Trevannion, who received me
with great affection, and it was arranged that I should set off in
three days, which time would be required for preparation, and to make
the necessary purchases. To supply funds for the journey, Mr.
Trevannion gave me another bag of jacobuses, of the same amount as the
former, saying that he wished us to appear bravely when we arrived in
London, and that he should require no account of the expenditure, only
that if the contents of the bag were not sufficient, he would supply
more. This was nothing more but an excuse on his part to be generous;
for one quarter of the money would have been sufficient for all
needful expenses. I told him that I had taken the name of Musgrave, as
that of Elrington might be remembered to the injury of the proposal,
and he said that it was well thought of by me. Miss Trevannion had
entered the room when I mentioned that to her father, and afterwards
had quitted it. After I had taken leave of Mr. Trevannion, I went down
to the sitting-room, where I found his daughter waiting for me. We had
much friendly discourse, and at one time she said, "I heard you say
that you had taken the name of Musgrave for your intended journey. Do
you intend to retain that name when you return?"
"Why should I?" replied I.
"Because," replied she, "perhaps it is your real name. Excuse a lady's
curiosity, but is not that the fact?"
"Miss Trevannion," replied I, "my real name must at present remain a
secret."
"That is to say, it will no longer be a secret if intrusted to me? I
thank you, Sir, for the compliment."
"I do not intend to imply that, Miss Trevannion; I fully believe that
you can keep a secret."
"If you fully believe so, you might, then, reply to my question; the
more so, as I now pledge myself to keep your secret most faithfully."
"Then, Miss Trevannion, my real name is Musgrave," replied I.
"I thank you for your confidence, Mr. Musgrave, which shall not be
misplaced. I might now follow up my inquiries as to why you changed
your name, with many other queries; but I am too discreet for
that--the time may come when I shall know all; but I am content with
your proof of confidence, and thank you for it."
Miss Trevannion never was so lively and communicative with me before,
as she was this morning; there was a friendliness without any of her
usual reserve, and I left her more full of admiration and devotion
than ever.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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