Mr. Wright drew up his chair close to the detective’s side. Carter picked up one of the papers and read the indorsement: “‘Confession of George Blanchard, butler, employed by Alfred Lawrence, Esq.’” “Phew!” Mr. Wright gave a prolonged whistle. His and the detective’s eyes met. For some time they did not speak. “Confession of George Blanchard,” repeated Mr. Wright. “We will read it,” the detective remarked, and he opened the paper. Mr. Wright leaned back in his chair. Carter cleared his throat and commenced to read: “‘I, George Blanchard, knowing that I am about to die and to be called upon to face my Maker, desiring to make reparation for grievous wrongs and sins which I have committed, do make the following confession, hoping thereby to ease my conscience. May God have mercy upon my soul! “‘I was born in Manchester, England, and at the age of twenty I came to America. “‘Shortly after my arrival in New York I was engaged by Alfred Lawrence, Esq., to act as his butler, and I went to work at his house, No. -- Beach Street. “‘Mr. Lawrence was engaged in business with his uncle, after whom he was named. “‘Old Mr. Lawrence died, and when the will was read it was found that his nephew was left all of the property. “‘Simeon Rich, another nephew of the deceased, proceeded to contest the will, and he claimed that Mr. Alfred Lawrence had forged the document. “‘Previous to the death of old Mr. Lawrence, Mr. Alfred Lawrence and his wife became estranged. “‘They used to quarrel frequently. “‘Mrs. Lawrence was a cold, willful, and heartless woman. “‘One day I discovered that she was meeting Simeon Rich clandestinely. This was before the death of her husband’s uncle. “‘I saw that I had her in my power, and I made a demand upon her for hush money, which she gave to me. “‘I threatened her with exposure, and I received from her several hundred dollars. “‘One night shortly after the death of old Mr. Lawrence, Simeon Rich came to me and told me that he was going to contest the will. He said he would pay me ten thousand dollars if I would swear that I had seen Mr. Alfred Lawrence forge the will. “‘Mrs. Lawrence, he told me, would be on his side. “‘He paid me one thousand dollars down, and the balance he promised to give me as soon as the will was broken. “‘I entered into the plot. “‘Papers which would have cleared Mr. Alfred Lawrence of the charge of forgery I stole from his safe. “‘These papers I have always kept in my possession, and they will be found with this confession. “‘One of the papers was a statement of the lawyer who had drawn up the will and who had died just before the contest. “‘From time to time Simeon Rich has tried to get possession of these papers, but I would never give them to him. “‘Another paper was a letter written by Mrs. Lawrence to Rich, in which she outlined the whole plot.