"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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