"`I will go and tell him, sir,' replied I, evading the last question. "I returned to old Roberts, and informed him that the clergyman would be with him in an hour or two, but I found the old man already hesitating and doubting again:-- "`You didn't tell him what it was for, did you? for perhaps--' "`Yes, I did. I told him you had an important secret to communicate that lay heavy on your conscience.' "`I'm sadly puzzled,' said the old man, musing. "`Well,' replied I, `I'm not puzzled; and if you don't confess, I must. I won't have my conscience loaded, poor fellow that I am; and if you choose to die with the sin upon you of depriving the orphan, I will not.' "`I'll tell--tell it all--it's the best way,' replied old Roberts, after a pause. "`There now,' said I, `the best thing to be done is for me to get paper and pen, and write it all down for Mr Sewell to read when he comes; then you need not have to repeat it all again.' "`Yes, that will be best, for I couldn't face the clergyman.' "`Then how can you expect to face the Almighty?' replied I. "`True--very true: get the paper,' said he. "I went to the inn and procured writing materials, and then returned and took down his confession of what I have now told you, Miss Valerie. When Mr Sewell came, I had just finished it, and I then told him that I had written it down, and handed it to him to read. Mr Sewell was much surprised and shocked, and said to Roberts, `You have done right to make this confession, Roberts, for it may be most important; but you must now swear to it in the presence of a magistrate and me. Of course, you have no objection?' "`No, sir; I'm ready to swear to the truth of every word.' "`Well, then, let me see. Why, there is no magistrate near us just now but Sir Thomas Moystyn; and as it concerns his own nephew, there cannot be a more proper person. I will go up to the Hall immediately, and ask him to come with me to-morrow morning.' "Mr Sewell did so; and the next day, he and Sir Thomas Moystyn came down in a phaeton, and went up to old Roberts. I rather turned away, that my uncle, as he now proves to be, might not, when I was regularly introduced to him, as I hope to be, as his nephew, recognise me as the sailor lad who passed off as the grandson of old Roberts." "Then, you admit that you have been playing a very deceitful game?" "Yes, Miss Valerie. I have a conscience; and I admit that I have been playing what may be called an unworthy game; but when it is considered how much I have at stake, and how long I have been defrauded of my rights by the duplicity of others, I think I may be excused if I have beat them at their own weapons." "I admit that there is great truth in your observations, Lionel; and that is all the answer I shall give."