“Had I been in your circumstances, uncle, I should have inquired.”

“Humph!—­Well, young man, as I find that I have relations, I should like to hear a little about them;—­so now tell me all about your father and yourself.”

Newton entered into a detail of the circumstances, with which the reader is already acquainted.  When he had finished, his uncle, who had listened with profound attention, his eye fixed upon that of Newton, as if to read his inmost thoughts, said, “It appears, then, that your father wishes to prosecute his business as optician.  I am afraid that I cannot help him.  I wear spectacles certainly when I read; but this pair has lasted me eleven years, and probably will as many more.  You wish me to procure you a situation in an East Indiaman as third or fourth mate.  I know nothing about the sea; I never saw it in my life; nor am I aware that I have a sailor in my acquaintance.”

“Then, uncle, I will take my leave.”

“Not so fast, young man; you said that you wanted my assistance and my advice.  My assistance I cannot promise you for the reasons I have stated; but my advice is at your service.  Is it a legal point?”

“Not exactly, sir,” replied Newton, who was mortified almost to tears; “still I must acknowledge that I now more than ever wish that the articles were in safe keeping, and out of my hands.”  Newton then entered into a detail of the trunk being picked up at sea; and stated his having brought with him the most valuable of the property, that it might be deposited in safe hands.

“Humph!” observed his uncle, when he had finished.  “You say that the articles are of value.”

“Those who are judges consider the diamonds and the other articles to be worth nearly one hundred pounds; I cannot pretend to say what their real value is.”

“And you have had these things in your possession these seven years?”

“I have, sir.”

“Did it never occur to you, since you have been in distress, that the sale of these articles would have assisted you?”

“It often has occurred to me, when I have found that the little I could earn was not sufficient for my father’s support; but we had already decided that the property was not legally mine, and I dismissed the idea as soon as I could from my thoughts.  Since then I have ascertained to whom the property belongs, and of course it has become more sacred.”

“You said a minute ago that you now more than ever wished the property in sate keeping.  Why so?”

“Because, disappointed in the hopes I had entertained of receiving your assistance, I foresaw that we should have more difficulties than ever to struggle against, and wished not to be in the way of temptation.”

“You were right.  Well, then, bring me those articles to-morrow, by one o’clock precisely; I will take charge of them, and give you a receipt.  Good morning, nephew; very happy to have had the pleasure of making your acquaintance.  Remember me kindly to my brother, and tell him I shall be happy to see him at one, precisely.”